Amendments

3a. Recalls that gold-plating by the Member States can add complexity to regulation and further reduce compliance; Recommends that Member States avoid adding to the administrative burden when transposing EU legislation to national law as a complementary action to the REFIT programme;

(viii) to ensure that the right of either partner to governregulate the exploration and, exploitation and supply of energy sources remains untouched by any agreement, but thatshould not be affected by TTIP and that a principle of non-discrimination isbe applied once exploitation is decided upon; access to raw materials as well as tond energy should also be granted on a non-discriminatory basis for companies from either the EU or the US and quality standards for energy products must beboth EU and US companies, and that each party's energy product quality standards must be respected with regards to imports respectedively;

(xi) to ensure that TTIP includes a specific chapter on SME’s and aims at creating new opportunities in the US for European SMEs, for instance by eliminating double certification requirements, by establishing a web-based information system about the different regulations, by introducing ‘fast- track’ procedures at the border or by eliminating specific tariff peaks that continue to exist; it should establish mechanisms for both sides to work together to facilitate SMEs’ participation in transatlantic trade and investment, for instance through a common SME ’one-stop shop’ that would improve the flow of information to SMEs thus delivering, inter alia, enhanced market predictability;

8. Believes that women’s rights, including access to education and health care, are part of the security solution and that it is impossible to achieve stability in Afghanistan unless women enjoy their full rights in political, social and economic life; is deeply concerned that Afghan women continue to be victims of discrimination, sexual abuse and rape; stresses, therefore, the need for more female employees in all public offices; points out that progress in peace talks may not be made at the cost of any of the rights acquired by women in recent years; emphasises the need to ensure that women and civil society actors play a prominent role at all stages of any peace and reconciliation process;

18. Is concerned about the large trade deficit resNotes that Afghanistan's negative trade balance impedes economic growth; recommends that stimulating in merchandise exports of USD 428.9 million and merchandise imports of USD 6.2 billion in 2012; recommends that higher tariffs be introduced in order to protect the economy, thereby also fosterforeign direct investment be a government priority, in parallel with a proactive external trade policy that pursues the negotiation of free trade agreements in order to foster both prosperity and stability ing the prospects for increased exportsregion;

18a. Notes that Pakistan is one of Afghanistan's main trading partners, welcomes the recent thawing of relations between the two countries, and more specifically, would encourage the opening of negotiations on a potential bilateral free trade agreement;

8. Believes that women’s rights, including access to education and health care, are part of the security solution and that it is impossible to achieve stability in Afghanistan unless women enjoy their full rights in political, social and economic life; is deeply concerned that Afghan women continue to be victims of discrimination, sexual abuse and rape; stresses, therefore, the need for more female employees in all public offices; points out that progress in peace talks may not be made at the cost of any of the rights acquired by women in recent years; emphasises the need to ensure that women and civil society actors play a prominent role at all stages of any peace and reconciliation process;

18. Is concerned about the large trade deficit resNotes that Afghanistan's negative trade balance impedes economic growth; recommends that stimulating in merchandise exports of USD 428.9 million and merchandise imports of USD 6.2 billion in 2012; recommends that higher tariffs be introduced in order to protect the economy, thereby also fosterforeign direct investment be a government priority, in parallel with a proactive external trade policy that pursues the negotiation of free trade agreements in order to foster both prosperity and stability ing the prospects for increased exportsregion;

18a. Notes that Pakistan is one of Afghanistan's main trading partners, welcomes the recent thawing of relations between the two countries, and more specifically, would encourage the opening of negotiations on a potential bilateral free trade agreement;

A. whereas the financial crisis has undermined the positive effects ofmay have impacted upon cohesion policy and led to higher unemployment rates, increased poverty and social exclusion, and less convergence than expected;

C. whereas the Cohesion Fund and the Structural Funds are still one of the EU’s main investment instruments, with the potential to alleviate negative trends resulting from the economic crisis and to create jobs, if used efficientlcan help to reduce internal competitive disparities and structural imbalances in regions that need it most, if used efficiently and with increased accountability;

1. Considers it regrettable that the job creation potential of EU funds is still insuEU funds are not as effective as possible in creating jobs; stresses that further moves towards results-based policy making would improve their efficient,cy and notes that it should be further strengthenedcontribute considerably towards smart, sustainable growth;

2. Considers it regrettable that the unemployment rate among young people is still too high; calls on the Member States to make the best and promptest possible use of the money available under the Youth Employment Initiative, especially the EUR 1 billion in pre-financing once it has been releasedremains high in some Member States; encourages Member States to use EU funds to complement and enhance national programmes aimed at boosting regional competitiveness, employment and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit, particularly amongst young people;

3. EmphasisNotes that, on account of changes in production patterns, the role of the European Social Fund (ESF) and investment in adapting workers’ skills have grown significantly; calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure that available resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible with a view to ensuring workers’ employabilitystrongly believes that the ESF should be used to support rather than subsidise national approaches in the Member States;

4a. Emphasises that cohesion policy should be used to generate smart and sustainable growth in the regions that need it most by supporting the start-up and development of micro, small and medium sized enterprises through a range of measures and financial instruments;

4b. Encourages Member States to use the European Structural and Investment Funds to focus on creating jobs and business opportunities by providing a hospitable environment and the right regulatory framework for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, businesses and start-ups;

(2) Implementation reports prepared by Member States every three years have not proved to be an effective tool for verifying compliance and ensuring correct implementation, and are generating unnecessary administrative burden. It is therefore appropriate to repeal provisions obliging Member States to produce such reports and for compliance monitoring purposes use exclusively the statistical data which Member States report every yearregularly to the Commission.

1a. Member States shall report the data concerning the implementation of Article 7(2) for each calendar yearregularly to the Commission. They shall report this data electronically within 18 months of the end of the reporting year for which the data are collected. The data shall be reported in the format established by the Commission in accordance with paragraph 1d. The first report shall cover the data for the period from 1 January [enter year of transposition of this Directive + 1 year] to 31 December [enter year of transposition of this Directive + 1 year].

5d. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the format for reporting data in accordance with paragraph 5a. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 21(2).deleted

(2) The targets laid down in Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 for preparing for re- use and recycling of waste should be amended to make them better reflect the Union's ambition to move to a circular economyfirst reached to a satisfactory extent in order that new targets can be set. __________________ 14 Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3).

(7) Member States should put in place adequate incentives for the application of the waste hierarchy, in particularfor example, by means of financial incentives aimed at achieving the waste prevention and recycling objectives of this Directive, such as landfill and incineration charges, pay as you throw schemes, extended producer responsibility schemes and incentives for local authorities.

(9) Extended producer responsibility schemes can form an essential part of efficient waste management, but their effectiveness and performance differ significantly between Member States. Thus, it is necessary to set minimum operating requirements for extended producer responsibility. Those requirements should reduce costs and boost performance, as well as ensure a level-playing field, including for small and medium sized enterprises, and avoid obstacles to the smooth functioning of the internal market. They should also contribute to the incorporation of end-of-life costs into product prices and provide incentives for producers to take better into account recyclability and reusability when designing their products. The requiremen. Member States should be able to take legislative or non-legislative measures to ensure that any natural or legal person who professionally develops, manufactures, processes, treats, should apply to both new and existing extended producer responsibility schemes. A transitional period is however necessary for existing extended producer responsibility schemes to adapt their structures and procedures to the new requirementsells or imports products has extended producer responsibility.

(14) The targets for preparation for re- use and recycling of municipal waste should be increasedmet in order to deliver substantial environmental, economic and social benefits as well as to decrease Europe's dependency on imported resources.

(15) Through a progressive increasethe effective implementation of the existing targets for preparation for re-use and recycling of municipal waste, it should be ensured that economically valuable waste materials are re-used and effectively recycled, and that valuable materials found in waste are channelled back into the European economy, thus advancing the Raw Materials Initiative17 and the creation of a circular economy. __________________ 17 COM(2008)699 and COM(2014)297.

(15a) The collection and recycling of waste oils would have significant economic and environmental benefits in terms of securing the supply of raw materials, advancing towards a circular economy and contributing towards a lesser dependence on oil supply. Some Member States already collect and recycle a large part of their waste oils.

(16) Large differences exist between Member States with respect to their waste management performance, particularly as regards recycling of municipal waste. In order to take account of those differences, those Member States which in 2013 recycled less than 20% of their municipal waste according to Eurostat data should be given additional time to comply with the preparing for re-use and recycling targets established for 2025 and 2030. In light of average annual progression rates observed in Member States over the past to meet those targets. In order to ensure that steady progress towards the targets is made and that implementation gaps are tackled in due time, Member States that are given additional time should meet interim-targets and establish amotivate Member States performing below the EU average and to increase compliance, achievable and understandable targets should be set. Such targets should act as minimum standards and should be without prejudice to better performing Member States who wish to exceed the agreed targets within the given timplementation planeframe.

(17) In order to ensure the reliability of the data gathered on preparation for re-use it is essential to establish common rules foreport what is effectively recycled and can be counted towards the attainment of the recycling targets. To that effect, as a general rule, the reporting on the attainment of the recycling targets must be based on the input to the final recycling process. In order to limit administrative burdens, Member States should be allowed, under strict conditions, to report recycling rates on the basis of the output of sorting facilities. Losses in weight of materials or substances due to physical and/or chemical transformation processes inherent to the final recycling process should not be deducted from the weight of the waste reported as recycled.

(18) Member States should, for the purposes of calculating whether the preparation for re-use and recycling targets are achieved, be able to take into account products and components that are prepared for re-use by recognised re-use operators and by deposit-refund schemes and the recycling of metals that takes place in conjunction with incineration. In order to ensure a uniform calculation of this data, the Commission will adopt detailed rules on the determination of recognised preparation for re-use operators and deposit-refund schemes, on the quality criteria for recycled metals and on the collection, verification and reporting of data.

(20) Compliance with the obligation to set up separate collection systems for paper, metal, plastic and glass is essential separately to contribute to an increase in preparing for re-use and recyclingWhere technically, environmentally and economically practicable, separate collection systems for rates and theo prevention of the contamination of dry recyclable material in the Member States.

(27) Implementation reports prepared by Member States every three years have not proved to be an effective tool for verifying compliance and ensuring good implementation, and are generating unnecessary administrative burdens. It is therefore appropriate to repeal provisions obliging Member States to produce such reports. Instead compliance monitoring should be exclusively based on the statistical data which Member States report every yearregularly to the Commission.

(29) In order to supplement or amend Directive 2008/98/EC, increase legal certainty, transparency and democratic scrutiny no further power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of Articles 5(2), 6(2), 7(1), 11a(2), 11a(6), 26, 27(1), 27(4), 38(1), 38(2) and 38(3)should be delegated to the Commission other than those laid down in Directive 2008/98/EC. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and European Parliament and the Council.drawing-up new legislative proposals, should ensure a

2. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a in order to establish detailed criteria on the application of the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 to certain waste. Those detailed criteria shall include limit values for pollutants where necessary and shall take into account any possible adverse environmental effects of the substance or object.

5. The Commission shall organise an exchange of information between Member defined in Article 8aBased on the agreement of the Member States in question, the responsibility schemes on the practical implementation such schemes and on best practices to ensure adequate governance and cross-border cooperation of extended producer responsibility schemes. This includes, inter alia, exchange of information on the organisational features and the monitoring of producer responsibility organisations, the selection of waste management operators and the prevention of littering. The Commission shall publish the results of the exchange of information.

5. Every year, tThe European Environment Agency shall regularly publish a report describing the evolution as regards the prevention of waste generation for each Member State and for the Union as a whole, including on decoupling of waste generation from economic growth and on the transition towards a circular economy.

1.Member States shallmay take measures, as appropriate, to promote preparing for re- use activities, notably by encouraging the establishment of and support for re-use and repair networks and by facilitating the access of such networks to waste collection points, and by promoting the use of economic instruments, procurement criteria, quantitative objectives or other measures.

(c) by 2025, thethe targets laid down in Directive 2008/98/EC for preparing for re-use and the recycling of municipal waste shall be incfirst reasched to a minimum of 60% by weighsatisfactory extent in order that new targets for 2025 can be set;

(d) by 2030, thethe targets laid down in Directive 2008/98/EC for preparing for re-use and the recycling of municipal waste shall be incfirst reasched to a minimum of 65% by weight.satisfactory extent in order that new targets for 2030 can be set;

The notification shall be accompanied by an implementation plan presenting the measures needed to ensure compliance with the targets before the new deadline. The plan shall also include a detailed timetable for the implementation of the proposed measures and an assessment of their expected impacts.deleted

4. By 31 December 2024 at the latest, the Commission shall examineWhen the reported data from the Member States indicates that the targets laid down in paragraph 2(d) with a view to increasArticle 11(2) of Directive 2008/98/EC are close to being imet, and considering the setting of targets for other waste streams. To this end, a report of the Commission, accompanied by a proposal, if appropriatethe Commission shall examine these targets. To this end, a report of the Commission, shall be sent to the European Parliament and the Council.

6. In order to ensure harmonised conditions for the application of paragraph 5, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a establishing a common methodology for the calculation of the weight of metals that have been recycled in conjunction with incineration, including, the quality criteria for the recycled metals.deleted

1. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a setting out technical minimum standards for treatment activities which require a permit pursuant to Article 23 where there is evidence that a benefit in terms of the protection of human health and the environment would be gained from such minimum standards.

4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a setting out the minimum standards for activities that require registration pursuant to points (a) and (b) of Article 26 where there is evidence that a benefit in terms of the protection of human health and the environment or in avoiding disruption to the internal market would be gained from such minimum standards.

5. The Commission may adopt implementing acts to establish minimum conditions for the operation of such registries. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 39(2).deleted

1. Member States shall report the data concerning the implementation of Article 11(2)(a) to (d) and Article 11(3) for each calendar yearregularly to the Commission. They shall report this data electronically within 18 months of the end of the reporting yearperiod for which the data are collected. The data shall be reported in the format established by the Commission in accordance with paragraph 6. The first reporting shall cover the data for the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020.

The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a to specify the application of the formula for incineration facilities referred to in point R1 of Annex II. Local climatic conditions may be taken into account, such as the severity of the cold and the need for heating insofar as they influence the amounts of energy that can technically be used or produced in the form of electricity, heating, cooling or processing steam. Local conditions of the outermost regions as recognised in the third subparagraph of Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and of the territories mentioned in Article 25 of the 1985 Act of Accession may also be taken into account.

(2) The targets laid down in Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 for preparing for re- use and recycling of waste should be amended to make them better reflect the Union's ambition to move to a circular economyfirst reached to a satisfactory extent in order that new targets can be set. __________________ 14 Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3).

(7) Member States should put in place adequate incentives for the application of the waste hierarchy, in particularfor example, by means of financial incentives aimed at achieving the waste prevention and recycling objectives of this Directive, such as landfill and incineration charges, pay as you throw schemes, extended producer responsibility schemes and incentives for local authorities.

(9) Extended producer responsibility schemes can form an essential part of efficient waste management, but their effectiveness and performance differ significantly between Member States. Thus, it is necessary to set minimum operating requirements for extended producer responsibility. Those requirements should reduce costs and boost performance, as well as ensure a level-playing field, including for small and medium sized enterprises, and avoid obstacles to the smooth functioning of the internal market. They should also contribute to the incorporation of end-of-life costs into product prices and provide incentives for producers to take better into account recyclability and reusability when designing their products. The requiremen. Member States should be able to take legislative or non-legislative measures to ensure that any natural or legal person who professionally develops, manufactures, processes, treats, should apply to both new and existing extended producer responsibility schemes. A transitional period is however necessary for existing extended producer responsibility schemes to adapt their structures and procedures to the new requirementsells or imports products has extended producer responsibility.

(14) The targets for preparation for re- use and recycling of municipal waste should be increasedmet in order to deliver substantial environmental, economic and social benefits as well as to decrease Europe's dependency on imported resources.

(15) Through a progressive increasethe effective implementation of the existing targets for preparation for re-use and recycling of municipal waste, it should be ensured that economically valuable waste materials are re-used and effectively recycled, and that valuable materials found in waste are channelled back into the European economy, thus advancing the Raw Materials Initiative17 and the creation of a circular economy. __________________ 17 COM(2008)699 and COM(2014)297.

(15a) The collection and recycling of waste oils would have significant economic and environmental benefits in terms of securing the supply of raw materials, advancing towards a circular economy and contributing towards a lesser dependence on oil supply. Some Member States already collect and recycle a large part of their waste oils.

(16) Large differences exist between Member States with respect to their waste management performance, particularly as regards recycling of municipal waste. In order to take account of those differences, those Member States which in 2013 recycled less than 20% of their municipal waste according to Eurostat data should be given additional time to comply with the preparing for re-use and recycling targets established for 2025 and 2030. In light of average annual progression rates observed in Member States over the past to meet those targets. In order to ensure that steady progress towards the targets is made and that implementation gaps are tackled in due time, Member States that are given additional time should meet interim-targets and establish amotivate Member States performing below the EU average and to increase compliance, achievable and understandable targets should be set. Such targets should act as minimum standards and should be without prejudice to better performing Member States who wish to exceed the agreed targets within the given timplementation planeframe.

(17) In order to ensure the reliability of the data gathered on preparation for re-use it is essential to establish common rules foreport what is effectively recycled and can be counted towards the attainment of the recycling targets. To that effect, as a general rule, the reporting on the attainment of the recycling targets must be based on the input to the final recycling process. In order to limit administrative burdens, Member States should be allowed, under strict conditions, to report recycling rates on the basis of the output of sorting facilities. Losses in weight of materials or substances due to physical and/or chemical transformation processes inherent to the final recycling process should not be deducted from the weight of the waste reported as recycled.

(18) Member States should, for the purposes of calculating whether the preparation for re-use and recycling targets are achieved, be able to take into account products and components that are prepared for re-use by recognised re-use operators and by deposit-refund schemes and the recycling of metals that takes place in conjunction with incineration. In order to ensure a uniform calculation of this data, the Commission will adopt detailed rules on the determination of recognised preparation for re-use operators and deposit-refund schemes, on the quality criteria for recycled metals and on the collection, verification and reporting of data.

(20) Compliance with the obligation to set up separate collection systems for paper, metal, plastic and glass is essential separately to contribute to an increase in preparing for re-use and recyclingWhere technically, environmentally and economically practicable, separate collection systems for rates and theo prevention of the contamination of dry recyclable material in the Member States.

(27) Implementation reports prepared by Member States every three years have not proved to be an effective tool for verifying compliance and ensuring good implementation, and are generating unnecessary administrative burdens. It is therefore appropriate to repeal provisions obliging Member States to produce such reports. Instead compliance monitoring should be exclusively based on the statistical data which Member States report every yearregularly to the Commission.

(29) In order to supplement or amend Directive 2008/98/EC, increase legal certainty, transparency and democratic scrutiny no further power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of Articles 5(2), 6(2), 7(1), 11a(2), 11a(6), 26, 27(1), 27(4), 38(1), 38(2) and 38(3)should be delegated to the Commission other than those laid down in Directive 2008/98/EC. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and European Parliament and the Council.drawing-up new legislative proposals, should ensure a

2. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a in order to establish detailed criteria on the application of the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 to certain waste. Those detailed criteria shall include limit values for pollutants where necessary and shall take into account any possible adverse environmental effects of the substance or object.

5. The Commission shall organise an exchange of information between Member defined in Article 8aBased on the agreement of the Member States in question, the responsibility schemes on the practical implementation such schemes and on best practices to ensure adequate governance and cross-border cooperation of extended producer responsibility schemes. This includes, inter alia, exchange of information on the organisational features and the monitoring of producer responsibility organisations, the selection of waste management operators and the prevention of littering. The Commission shall publish the results of the exchange of information.

5. Every year, tThe European Environment Agency shall regularly publish a report describing the evolution as regards the prevention of waste generation for each Member State and for the Union as a whole, including on decoupling of waste generation from economic growth and on the transition towards a circular economy.

(17) Online content services which are provided without payment of money are also included in the scope of this Regulation to the extent that providers verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers. Online content services which are provided without the payment of money and whose providers do not verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers should be outsidemay not choose to verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers. The inclusion of such online content services in the scope of this regulation would involve a major change to the way those services are delivered and involve disproportionate costs. On the other hand, the exclusion of these services entirely from the scope of this Re regulation as their inclusion would involve a major chanwould mean that these services would not be able to take advantage tof the way these services are delivered and involve disproportionate costs. As concernslegal mechanism provided for in this Regulation and enabling online content providers to offer their services on a portable basis across the European Union even if they decide to invest in means allowing the verification of their subscriber's Member State of residence, information such as a payment of a licence fee for other services provided in the Member State of residence, the existence of a contract for internet or telephone connection, IP address or other means of authentication, should be relied upon, if they enable the provider to have reasonable indicators as to the Member State of residence of its subscribers to the same degree of certainty as paid for services. Providers of online content services which are provided without payment of money should therefore have an option to elect to be included in the scope of this regulation and provided that they comply with the requirements on the verification of the Member State of residence to the same degree of certainty as content and services offered against the payment of money. In exercising the option to be included, these services should be obliged to comply with the provisions of this regulation in the same way as providers of online content services which are provided against the and those holding any other rights in the content of online content service of their decision to exercise that option. Such information could be provided on the provider's website.

(17) Online content services which are provided without payment of money are also included in the scope of this Regulation to the extent that providers verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers. Online content services which are provided without the payment of money and whose providers do not verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers should be outsidemay not choose to verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers. The inclusion of such online content services in the scope of this regulation would involve a major change to the way those services are delivered and involve disproportionate costs. On the other hand, the exclusion of these services entirely from the scope of this Re regulation as their inclusion would involve a major change to the way these services are delivered and involve disproportionate costs. As concerns verification of the subscriber's Member State of residence, information such as a payment of a licence fee for other services provided in the Member State of residence, the existence of a contract for internet or telephone connection, IP address or other means of authentication, should be relied upon, if they enable the provider to have reasonable indicators as to the Member State of residence of its subscriberswould mean that these services would not be able to take advantage of the legal mechanism provided for in this Regulation and enabling online content providers to offer their services on a portable basis across the European Union even if they decide to invest in means allowing the verification of their subscribers Member State of residence to the same degree of certainty as paid for services. Providers of online content services which are provided without payment of money should therefore have an option to elect to be included in the scope of this regulation and provided that they comply with the requirements on the verification of the Member State of residence to the same degree of certainty as content and services offered against the payment of money. In exercising the option to be included, these services should be obliged to comply with the provisions of this regulation in the same way as providers of online content services which are provided against the and those holding any other rights in the content of online content service of their decision to exercise that option. Such information could be provided on the provider's website.

(19) Requiring that the delivery of online content services to subscribers temporarily present in Member States other than their Member State of residence be of subscribers. Therefore, it is not appropriate for this Regulation to require that the provider of an online content service take measures to ensure quality of delivery of such services beyond the quality available via the local online access chosen by a subscriber while temporarily present in another Member State. In such cases the provider shall not be liable if the quality of delivery of the service is lower. Nevertheless, if the provider expressly agrees to guarantee certain quality of delivery to subscribers while temporarily present in other Member States, the provider shall be bound by such agreement. Providers of online content services should provide subscribers advance notification concerning any variation in the quality that may be delivered or experienced when accessing content in a Member state other than the Member state of residence. Such information could be provided on the provider's website.

(19) Requiring that the delivery of online content services to subscribers temporarily present in Member States other than their Member State of residence be of subscribers. Therefore, it is not appropriate for this Regulation to require that the provider of an online content service take measures to ensure quality of delivery of such services beyond the quality available via the local online access chosen by a subscriber while temporarily present in another Member State. In such cases the provider shall not be liable if the quality of delivery of the service is lower. Nevertheless, if the provider expressly agrees to guarantee certain quality of delivery to subscribers while temporarily present in other Member States, the provider shall be bound by such agreement. Providers of online content services should provide subscribers advance notification concerning any variation in the quality that may be delivered or experienced when accessing content in a Member state other than the Member state of residence. Such information could be provided on the provider's website.

(c) "Member State of residence" means the Member State where the subscriber is habitually residing, established on the basis of Article 3B, where the subscriber has his or her actual and stable residence to which he or she returns to regularly;

(c) "Member State of residence" means the Member State where the subscriber is habitually residing, established on the basis of Article 3B, where the subscriber has his or her actual and stable residence to which he or she returns to regularly;

(1) The provider of an online content service shall enable a subscriber who is temporarily present in a Member State toprovided against payment of money shall enable a subscriber who is means of authentication and verification in accordance with this regulation.

(1) The provider of an online content service shall enable a subscriber who is temporarily present in a Member State toprovided against payment of money shall enable a subscriber who is means of authentication and verification in accordance with this regulation.

Article 3 a Providers of online content without payment of money and the option to comply with this regulation (1) The Providers of an online content service provided without payment of money may choose to enable its subscribers who are temporarily present verifies the subscribers Member State of residence in compliance with Article 3b. (2) The Providers of an online content service provided without payment of money, shall inform subscribers, the relevant holders of copyright and related rights and those holding any other rights in the content of the online content service where they choose to apply this Regulation to the online content service. Such notification shall be given prior to the provisions of access and use of the online content service on a portable basis by means that are adequate and proportionate. (3) Where the provider choose to offer an online content service in accordance with paragraph 1, this Regulation shall apply to that provider.

Article 3 a Providers of online content without payment of money and the option to comply with this regulation (1) The Providers of an online content service provided without payment of money may choose to enable its subscribers who are temporarily present verifies the subscribers Member State of residence in compliance with Article 3b. (2) The Providers of an online content service provided without payment of money, shall inform subscribers, the relevant holders of copyright and related rights and those holding any other rights in the content of the online content service where they choose to apply this Regulation to the online content service. Such notification shall be given prior to the provisions of access and use of the online content service on a portable basis by means that are adequate and proportionate. (3) Where the provider choose to offer an online content service in accordance with paragraph 1, this Regulation shall apply to that provider.

residence; (f) payment of a license fee by a subscriber for other services provided in the Member state of residence; (g) Internet Protocol (IP) address to identify where the subscriber accesses content and predominantly uses the online content service be it internal or external to the Member State of residence, or by other geo-locational means equivalent to this; (h) or local electoral rolls, if publicly available; or; (i) the payment of national, regional or local/poll taxes, if available. Unless the Member State of residence can be sufficiently established on the basis of a single verification means, the provider shall rely on a combination of such means. (3) The provider and the holders of copyright and related rights or those holding any other rights in the content of an online content service may agree on the use and number of particular means referred to in paragraph 2 or, to take account of new technological developments, any other means of equivalence in accordance with paragraph 1 to verify the Member state of residence. (4) Online content service providers, using the means in paragraph 2, should ensure subscribers are demonstrating regular return in predominantly accessing content within the Member State of residence. (5) The provider shall be entitled to request the subscriber to provide such information as is necessary for theArticle 3 b Verification of the Member State of residence (1) Providers of online content service provided against payment of money shall make use of effective means in order to verify the Member State of residence of its subscribers. These means shall be reasonable and not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve their purpose. (2) In order to comply with the obligation set out in paragraph 1, the provider shall rely on the following verification means, or equivalent means as agreed between rights holders and service providers: (a) an identity card or any other valid document confirming subscriber's Member State of residence, to include electronic identification means; (b) the billing address or postal address of the subscriber; (c) bank details such as bank account, local credit or debit card of the subscriber; (d) physical visitation to the place of installation of a set top box or a similar device used for supply of services to the subscribers; sampling or periodic checking of registration on national, regional such adequate information as to determine the Member State of residence the provider shall prevent the subscriber from accessing or using the online content service when he or she is temporarily present in a Member State other than the Member State of residence.

residence; (f) payment of a license fee by a subscriber for other services provided in the Member state of residence; (g) Internet Protocol (IP) address to identify where the subscriber accesses content and predominantly uses the online content service be it internal or external to the Member State of residence, or by other geo-locational means equivalent to this; (h) or local electoral rolls, if publicly available; or; (i) the payment of national, regional or local/poll taxes, if available. Unless the Member State of residence can be sufficiently established on the basis of a single verification means, the provider shall rely on a combination of such means. (3) The provider and the holders of copyright and related rights or those holding any other rights in the content of an online content service may agree on the use and number of particular means referred to in paragraph 2 or, to take account of new technological developments, any other means of equivalence in accordance with paragraph 1 to verify the Member state of residence. (4) Online content service providers, using the means in paragraph 2, should ensure subscribers are demonstrating regular return in predominantly accessing content within the Member State of residence. (5) The provider shall be entitled to request the subscriber to provide such information as is necessary for theArticle 3 b Verification of the Member State of residence (1) Providers of online content service provided against payment of money shall make use of effective means in order to verify the Member State of residence of its subscribers. These means shall be reasonable and not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve their purpose. (2) In order to comply with the obligation set out in paragraph 1, the provider shall rely on the following verification means, or equivalent means as agreed between rights holders and service providers: (a) an identity card or any other valid document confirming subscriber's Member State of residence, to include electronic identification means; (b) the billing address or postal address of the subscriber; (c) bank details such as bank account, local credit or debit card of the subscriber; (d) physical visitation to the place of installation of a set top box or a similar device used for supply of services to the subscribers; sampling or periodic checking of registration on national, regional such adequate information as to determine the Member State of residence the provider shall prevent the subscriber from accessing or using the online content service when he or she is temporarily present in a Member State other than the Member State of residence.

(17) Online content services which are provided without payment of money are also included in the scope of this Regulation to the extent that providers verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers. Online content services which are provided without the payment of money and whose providers do not verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers should be outsidemay not choose to verify the Member State of residence of their subscribers. The inclusion of such online content services in the scope of this regulation would involve a major change to the way those services are delivered and involve disproportionate costs. On the other hand, the exclusion of these services entirely from the scope of this Re regulation as their inclusion would involve a major chanwould mean that these services would not be able to take advantage tof the way these services are delivered and involve disproportionate costs. As concernslegal mechanism provided for in this Regulation and enabling online content providers to offer their services on a portable basis across the European Union even if they decide to invest in means allowing the verification of their subscriber's Member State of residence, information such as a payment of a licence fee for other services provided in the Member State of residence, the existence of a contract for internet or telephone connection, IP address or other means of authentication, should be relied upon, if they enable the provider to have reasonable indicators as to the Member State of residence of its subscribers to the same degree of certainty as paid for services. Providers of online content services which are provided without payment of money should therefore have an option to elect to be included in the scope of this regulation and provided that they comply with the requirements on the verification of the Member State of residence to the same degree of certainty as content and services offered against the payment of money. In exercising the option to be included, these services should be obliged to comply with the provisions of this regulation in the same way as providers of online content services which are provided against the and those holding any other rights in the content of online content service of their decision to exercise that option. Such information could be provided on the provider's website.

(19) Requiring that the delivery of online content services to subscribers temporarily present in Member States other than their Member State of residence be of subscribers. Therefore, it is not appropriate for this Regulation to require that the provider of an online content service take measures to ensure quality of delivery of such services beyond the quality available via the local online access chosen by a subscriber while temporarily present in another Member State. In such cases the provider shall not be liable if the quality of delivery of the service is lower. Nevertheless, if the provider expressly agrees to guarantee certain quality of delivery to subscribers while temporarily present in other Member States, the provider shall be bound by such agreement. Providers of online content services should provide subscribers advance notification concerning any variation in the quality that may be delivered or experienced when accessing content in a Member state other than the Member state of residence. Such information could be provided on the provider's website.

(c) "Member State of residence" means the Member State where the subscriber is habitually residing, established on the basis of Article 3B, where the subscriber has his or her actual and stable residence to which he or she returns to regularly;

(1) The provider of an online content service shall enable a subscriber who is temporarily present in a Member State toprovided against payment of money shall enable a subscriber who is means of authentication and verification in accordance with this regulation.

Article 3 a Providers of online content without payment of money and the option to comply with this regulation (1) The Providers of an online content service provided without payment of money may choose to enable its subscribers who are temporarily present verifies the subscribers Member State of residence in compliance with Article 3b. (2) The Providers of an online content service provided without payment of money, shall inform subscribers, the relevant holders of copyright and related rights and those holding any other rights in the content of the online content service where they choose to apply this Regulation to the online content service. Such notification shall be given prior to the provisions of access and use of the online content service on a portable basis by means that are adequate and proportionate. (3) Where the provider choose to offer an online content service in accordance with paragraph 1, this Regulation shall apply to that provider.

residence; (f) payment of a license fee by a subscriber for other services provided in the Member state of residence; (g) Internet Protocol (IP) address to identify where the subscriber accesses content and predominantly uses the online content service be it internal or external to the Member State of residence, or by other geo-locational means equivalent to this; (h) or local electoral rolls, if publicly available; or; (i) the payment of national, regional or local/poll taxes, if available. Unless the Member State of residence can be sufficiently established on the basis of a single verification means, the provider shall rely on a combination of such means. (3) The provider and the holders of copyright and related rights or those holding any other rights in the content of an online content service may agree on the use and number of particular means referred to in paragraph 2 or, to take account of new technological developments, any other means of equivalence in accordance with paragraph 1 to verify the Member state of residence. (4) Online content service providers, using the means in paragraph 2, should ensure subscribers are demonstrating regular return in predominantly accessing content within the Member State of residence. (5) The provider shall be entitled to request the subscriber to provide such information as is necessary for theArticle 3 b Verification of the Member State of residence (1) Providers of online content service provided against payment of money shall make use of effective means in order to verify the Member State of residence of its subscribers. These means shall be reasonable and not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve their purpose. (2) In order to comply with the obligation set out in paragraph 1, the provider shall rely on the following verification means, or equivalent means as agreed between rights holders and service providers: (a) an identity card or any other valid document confirming subscriber's Member State of residence, to include electronic identification means; (b) the billing address or postal address of the subscriber; (c) bank details such as bank account, local credit or debit card of the subscriber; (d) physical visitation to the place of installation of a set top box or a similar device used for supply of services to the subscribers; sampling or periodic checking of registration on national, regional such adequate information as to determine the Member State of residence the provider shall prevent the subscriber from accessing or using the online content service when he or she is temporarily present in a Member State other than the Member State of residence.

A. whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was created to strengthen the European Union's (EU) cooperation and partnerships with neighbouring countries in order to develop an area of shared stability, security and prosperity;

D. whereas the Commission has tried to reshape the ENP so as to address its flaws, in particular after the Arab Spring and Russian annexation of Crimea and aggression in Eastern Ukraine; whereas this was reflected in the new financing instrument for the ENP for 2014-2020 – the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI);

E. whereas since the introduction of the new approach in 2011, political developments in the neighbourhood have demonstrated that the EU needs to further rethink relations with its neighbours, taking into account the different external and internal realities, including increasingly aggressive policy of Russia towards EU neighbours and Member States; whereas the EU needs to address new challenges in its neighbourhood and adjust its strategy by examining its interests and priorities and assessing its policy tools, incentives and available resources, so as to ensure their application in a consistent manner and their attractiveness to its partners;

F. whereas differentiation is needed, especially as the EU neighbourhood has become more fragmented than ever, with the countries differing in many respects, including in their ambitions and expectations as regards the EU; whereas the EU's bilateral relations with ENP countries are at different stages of development; whereas the EU's neighbours should be able to determine their future free from external pressure;

H. whereas the EU Member States should retain the right to play an important role in the European neighbourhood by aligning their efforts and supporting a single EU voased on their own national and regional links and priorities; whereas the different interests and expertise of Member States could be a valuable tool for shaping a coherent and more effective neighbourhood policey;

Ia. whereas the Eastern and Southern neighbourhood faces different problems and tackling these successfully requires the ENP to be flexible and adaptable to specific needs and challenges of each region;

4. Stresses that the renewed policy must be more strategic, with a real political vision, and politically driven; calls for special envoys to be appointed for the East and the South, with the task of politically coordinating t, taking into account different challenges facing countries in each region, as well as their differing aspirations; underlines the important role of Member States, their expertise and their bilateral relations with the ENP countries in shaping a coherevisednt EU policy;

5. Urges that short-, medium- and long- term priorities and strategic objectives be defined, bearing in mind that the ENP should aim to create different levels of cooperation in different areas among and with the ENP countries; stresses that in defining its approach the EU should look at its priorities and those of the individual countries concerned, together with their level of development, considering the interests of society on the whole and not only those of the political elite;

10. Stresses the need to reshape the ENP in order to build strong, lasting partnerships with thewilling ENP countries; calls for the technical aspects of the policy to be underpinned by a clear political vision;

15. Underlines the continuous need to focus on strengthening and consolidating democracy, the rule of law, the independence of the justice system, respect for minorities, including religious groups, in particular Christians, and diversity; highlights that capacity-building in national institutions, including their national assemblies, together with support for civil society, pro-democracy groups and political parties, will enhance political dialogue and pluralism;

20. Notes that security and stability are basicfundamental concerns in the neighbourhood and that current developments in the region call for a strong security component in the ENP, which has regrettably been missing to datecloser cooperation in addressing security issues in the spirit of solidarity between EU Members States in the face of aggression against some of the neighbourhood countries by Russia and extremist terrorist groups;

21. Calls forBelieves that closer coordination between the ENP and wider Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) activities, addressing differentmay be necessary to address security aspects of the security of ENP countries and of the EU;

22. Underlines the need for an overarching political strategy to restore the European political order while ensuring full compliance with international law and commitments, as laid down in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975,at the ENP should be based on respect for human rights, minority rights and fundamental freedoms, independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of states, and peaceful resolution of conflicts; notes that the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as the biggest regional organisation responsible for security, can play an important role in this regarsolving current ongoing and frozen conflicts in the Eastern Neighbourhood;

24. Stresses the need to actively promote and assist in the peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region, using different tools and instruments, on the basis of the added value they may provide – such measures include its EU Special Representatives, confidence-building programmes and, promoting people to people contacts and, where appropriate, civilian CSDP missions;

30. Calls on the EU to take advantage of the expertise of the regional organisations to which the neighbours belong, such as the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the African Union and the League of Arab States, which are important fora in which to engage partners in carrying out reforms, to address concerns on human rights, regional issues - for which they should assume greater responsibility - and to foster democratisation;

30a. Believes that the EU's main focus should be on cooperation with regional organisations and actors in order to resolve conflicts and deescalate tensions, rather than act unilaterally as a regional policeman;

31. Calls for the EU to explore and identify, together with its partners, priorities for integration in different policy fields, such as economic development, infrastructure and regional development, the environment, competition policies, SMEs, migration, security, energy and energy efficiency, with the aim of creating an area of prosperity and goodwith the aim of creating an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness and link those with progress on improving human rights and respect for fundamental freedoms in the neighbourlinesshood;

32a. Calls on the HR/VP and the European Commission to guarantee the safety and freedom of Christians and other religious and minority groups who are facing increasing discrimination and persecution in the countries of the Southern neighbourhood; calls on the European Commission to ensure that future agreements in the framework of ENP include effective monitoring mechanisms for the protection of the human rights of religious and ethnic minorities;

33. Stresses the importance of freer movement of people, and supports enhancingnotes the ongoing process of visa facilitation and visa liberalisation within the neighbourhood on the country by country basis, particularly for students, young people and researchers; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to further enhance mobility partnerships within the neighbourhood and develop possibilities for circular migration schemes, which would encourage and reward regular migrantlegal migrants; notes that such developments are at different stages of development in the individual countries in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhoods;

34. Notes that high unemployment, social exclusion and poverty, combined with the low political participation of women, are root causes of instability, and demandsencourages further engagement beyond the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs);

35. Calls onInvites the Commission to explore and offer to the ENP countries different levels of participation, cooperation and engagement in its policies, programmes and agencies, such as in EUROPOL, customs management and the Energy Community;

38. Emphasises that for the ENP to be a successful policy, it should also ensure that there is ownership bytake into account important role of the Member States; calls on the Commission, therefore, to reinforce policy coordination and joint programming of financial assistance, and to provide mechanisms to foster consultation between the Member States, EU structures and neighbouring countries;

41. Considers that the visibility of EU assistance should be enhanced in order to make clear toprimarily focus on effective outcomes for the populations of the partner countries and the EU Member States the benefits of EU supportrather than visibility;

43. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Governments and Parliaments of ENP countries, to the Euronest and Euromed parliamentary assemblies, League of Arab States and OSCE;

3. Takes note of the result of the popular initiative of 9 February 2014; calls, however, on the European Union to remain firm on the fundamental principle of free movement of persons so that Switzerland continues to grant upon the Commission to work with Switzerland and the Member States to find a satisfactory solution that takes into consideration the outcome of this vote whilst respecting the priovileged access to Union workers and enterprisesions of the concerned agreements;

6a. Stresses the need to identify a broad range of emerging industries and key growth sectors on which the EEA countries, Switzerland and the Member States should focus on developing their skills base;

12b. Takes not of the result of the popular initiative of 9 February 2014; calls upon the Commission to work with Switzerland and the member States to find a satisfactory solution that takes into consideration the outcome of this vote whilst respecting the provisions of the concerned agreements;

3. Stresses the need to build up partnerships between local authorities, education and employment services and the business community to support the creation, implementation and monitoring of employment strategies and action plans; calls for closer co-operation between education, public administration, business and civil society, especially youth organisations with a view to better matching skills to labour market needs;

5. Calls for a EU award for the best projects in combating youth unemployment, which could be linked to the pan-European contest ‘European Youth Award' and to the European Prize ‘For youth employment in the Social Economy'; calls on the Commission to give visibility to such initiatives in order to raise awareness and to become closer to citizens' needs; stresses however the need for budgetary responsibility and calls therefore for such initiatives to be financed from within the existing budget;

10. Stresses that training in the workplace and high-quality apprenticeships are ways of improving youth access to the labour market and a better use of these opportunities could enlarge the pool of potential candidates for vacancies and also improve their preparedness for work; notes the success of such policies in several Member States; suggests that the sharing of best practice in this area would contribute to reducing youth unemployment;

15. Recalls, with respect to the Member States' competence in this area, that the dual model of education as well as the acquisition of practical, social and communication skills is of high importance;

B. whereas the EU is Vietnam's biggest export market; whereas the EU togetheralong with its Member States isare the largest ODA providers to Vietnam and that, to this end, there will be an EU budget increase for this purpose of 30% to EUR 400 million in 2014-2020;

I. whereas tensions have risea recent escalation in tension between China and neighbouring countries, including Vietnam, regarding contested areas in the South China Sea in the South China Sea, including Vietnam, over the Paracel and Spratly islands;

J. whereas Vietnam at the same time has recently systematically started to develophas simultaneously enhanced strategic, security and energy cooperation with its Southeast Asian neighbours, the United States, and Russia;

K. whereas Vietnam remains heavily contaminated by the explosive remnants of the Vietnam War and still suffers from ecocide from some 20 million gallons of Agent Orange/Dioxinethe environmental impact of Dioxin (Agent Orange) used during the Vietnam War;

2. Expresses its hope that the mutually agreed respect for democratic principles and human rights will further enhancefoster the longstanding dialogue with the Vietnamese Government on promoting, notably, freedom of expression, assembly, association and religion, as enshrined in theVietnam's Constitution;

3. Welcomes the master plan which has been announced by the Prime Minister for the implementation of thePrime Minister's announced "master plan" which should implement the UNHRC's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations, as well as the strategy on judicial reforms that is being implemented until strategy that should be concluded by 2020;

4. Encourages the EU to continue Vietnam's capacity development in promoting respect for good governance and rule of law and welcomes the focus of EU cooperation on reformd fostering of good governance and rule of law in Vietnam with a special focus ofn public administration reform;

5. Reiterates itsthe demand made by some to establish a legal link between the FTA and the PCA to include the possibility of its suspension of the FTA in case of severe human rights abuses and; reiterates its request tohat the Commission to proceed with thecarry out a human rights impact assessment on the planned FTA, as called forrecommended by the EU Ombudsman;

6. Calls on the EUHigh Representative/Vice President to ensure that the policies the EU and its Member States pursue in the context of the implementation of the PCA and the future FTA with Vietnam help advance the respect for human rights, rule of law and good governance; suggests the setting up of a complaintimplementation of a dispute resolution mechanism that can be used by affected individuals and communities;

11. Urges also the ratification ofHighlights the positive signal that would be sent to some were the Vietnamese authorities to ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Rights to Organise and Convention No 98 on Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining;

16. Welcomes the extensive legal commitments by the Vietnamese authorities toin promoting gender equity and combating discrimination, but expresses concern that domestic violence, trafficking of women and girls, the growing problem of HIV/AIDS among women, violations of sexual and reproductive rights remain serious problems; urges notably the Vietnamese Government to abolish the discriminatory systemcontinue to reform its civil registry and end the discriminatory practices that are sometimes due to the peculiarities of the ‘Hộ khẩu' (family register);

18. Shares the Vietnamese Government's concerns that increasing corruption represents one of Vietnam's main challenges and notes with particular concern that citizens, including journalists and bloggers who denounce corruption claim they are targeted by the authorities;

19. Expresses serious concern atover environmental damage in Vietnam, pollution,in particular, pollution, deforestation and unsustainable mining activities that destroy whole regions, waterways, the and disrupt the way of life of local communities and deforestation;

24. Calls for the establishingment of a regular exchangecommunication mechanism or forum between the EEAS and Parliament, so as to allow Parliament to follow up onensure transparency and allow the latter to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and the achievement of it's objectives;

3. Recalls that trade policy should contributes, whenever possible, to compliance with the values upheld by the EU such asimplementation of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of the environment and social and basic human rights; Wwelcomes the Commission's announcement of the incorporation in trade agreements of tools aimed at fighting

4. Stresses that the GSP, GSP+ and EBA systems are tools which enable these values to be upheld and insists on the importance of their effective implementation and monitoring; awaits with interest the publication of the Commission's first biennial status report on the implementation of the GSP+ and calls on the Commission to ensure that Parliament is involved in this monitoring process;

5. Stresses that EU trade policy is an key instrument of economic diplomacy and calls on the Commission to put forward proposals to establish trade tools which will make an effective contribution to Europe's anti-terrorism policy;

2. Insists that, in line with the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law Making agreed recently by the European Parliament and the Member States, that the Commission ensure that impact assessments, including sustainability impact assessments, of new initiatives are conducted, allowing not only for an ex-ante but also for an ex-post evaluation;

3. Emphasises that, as a minimum, the legislation on the posting of workers and other EU and national and EU labour legislation applicable in the country where the service and therefore the work is provided, as well as collective agreements, should be applicable to contractual service suppliers; considers this is without prejudice to more favourable provisions in legislation or agreements applicable in the sending country;

4. Rejects any further liberalisation of theNotes the high levels of outward regards to inward mobility, unless other trading partners are willing to offer substantial concessions to the EU; requests, in any event, that trade agreements contain clauses maintaining the legal obligation of foreign service providers to comply with EU and Member State social and labour legislation;

5. Stresses that labour standards, including the eight fundamental International Labour Organisation conventions, must be equally implemented in all chapters of trade agreementsshould be considered for inclusion in trade and sustainable development chapters, with necessary flexibilities for those developing countries who may experience difficulties in their implementation, and that these agreements must include a revision clause allowing a party to leave the agreement or to suspend commitmentaddress problems in the event of infringements of mutually agreed labour and social standards;

9. Stresses the need to increase efforts to unblock the reform of trade defence instruments.ensure that any changes to EU anti-dumping law retain the ability of the EU to take timely, necessary and effective action to tackle anti-competitive market practices by EU trading partners and ensure EU companies continue to operate on a global level playing field;

1. Notes with concern that the estimated level of error in the policy area of employment and social affairs is 3,7 % in 2014, which is slightly higher than in the previous year (3,1 %); highlights that this represents a step backwards in achieving an error rate that is below the target of 2%;

1a. Considers that the continued focus on compliance rather than results represents an inefficient use of public funds; calls on the Commission to further develop result indicators and monitoring systems with a view to increasing the efficiency of future operating programmes;

4. Notes the Court’s observations about the increased risk of irregularities in cases of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participating in Horizon 2020; supports the Commission’s reply that SMEs' involvement in the programme is crucial for the creation of growth and jobs and; welcomes that the administrative rules for SMEs have been simplified and stresses that further simplification would lead to a higher involvement of SMEs;

4a. Notes that SMEs are Europe's biggest job creators and considers that more can be done to increase their participation across EU funding programmes; calls on the Commission to introduce further measures that encourage the active participation of SMEs including the application of the think-small-first principle;

5a. Is alarmed by the findings of Court of Auditors’ Special Report 17/2015 regarding the redirection of ESF funding during the period 2012 - 2014; notes with concern the shortcomings in the Commission's reporting on the impact of these funds and highlights the considerable gap in financial accountability that this represents; considers that further moves towards results-based policy making are vital to ensuring sound financial accountability and an efficient use of public funds;

6. Considers that the promotion of broader use of simplified cost options can lead to the reduction of the administrative burden on the beneficiaries; highlights that the introduction of Annual Burden Reduction Targets that include EU funding programmes would increase compliance and therefore contribute to a reduction in the error rate;

6a. Calls upon the Commission to bring forward proposals for an Annual Burden Survey which also covers EU funding programmes with a view to reducing the administrative burden, increasing compliance and therefore reducing the

3. Acknowledges the good practices of synergies and cooperation among the agencies on living and working conditions and vocational training, which maximise the purpose of mutual complementarity between the agencies; stresses however that more synergies can be found with a view to ensuring cost-efficiency;

3 a. Highlights that the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training and the European Training Foundation have a combined annual budget of over €37 million; considers that separately funding two agencies with such a similar remit represents an inefficient use of public funds;

3 b. Calls upon the Commission to come forth with proposals for the European Centre for Vocational Training and the considerably increase efficiency, further enable the sharing of best practice and provide considerable cost savings;

B. whereas the involvement of employees in supervisory boards is a crucial step in the further democratisation of can bring benefits to bothe economy, whereby this is not a matter of legislative burdens which may be tackled by cutting red tape and by deregulationmployers and employees;

C. whereas, under the present conditions of global division of labour, internationalisation, accelerated corporate change and the upcoming transformation through digitisation, i.e. the so-called ‘4th Industrial Revolution’, prosperity for the maximum number of people can be achieved only by the pre-emptive framing of the economy and industrial by fully embracing new opportunities and ensuring that the regulatory environment is conducive to economic growth and job crelations;

L. whereas the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on single-member private limited liability companies (SUP)19 can be used to circumvent existing national forms of worker representation on supervisory boards, and the Committee on Employment therefore rejected this proposal in its opinion of 29 COM(2014)0212. 20 PE549.466v02-00.

4. Calls on the Council, the Member States and the Commission to respect and protect existing national forms of worker representation at supervisory board level in the EU and to counter any attempt to use existing EU law to circumvent or abuse such arrangements by making appropriate changes in the relevant European Treaties or legislative acts;

6. Encourages the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council, in the area of company law to seek at an early stage enhanced cooperation, where appropriate, with the bodies responsible for employment because their opinions are frequently ignored until it is too late or not sufficiently taken into account;

7. Calls on the Commission to introduce in the Directive on the European Company (SE) minimum EU rules governing employee representation on supervisory boards, rather than referring to national law or revising the Directive so that the involvement of workers in supervisory boards is not solely determined by conditions when a company is established, but account is also taken of subsequent developments and, in particular, changes in the number of employees;deleted

8. Calls on the Commission to introduce in the Directive on mergers of limited liability companies minimum European rules for employee representation on supervisory boards, rather than referring to national legislation;deleted

10. Calls on the Commission in all legislative acts on European company law to provide that the place of a company’s registered offices must be identical with its actual place of business so as to prevent the circumvention of the requirement regarding employee representation on supervisory boards, such as would be possible under the proposal for single-member private limited liability companies (SUP), and, instead of this proposal, to submit a proposal for a directive on the cross- border transfer of the registered office, as decided by the European Parliament22 ; __________________ 22Resolution of 10 March 2009 with recommendations to the Commission on the cross-border transfer of the registered office of a company.deleted

11. Calls on the Commission to develop standards for rules governing employee representation on supervisory boards that can be applied as a universal model in the form of a directive to all European corporate law directives which takes into account, but does not replace, existing rules on information and consultationand would constitute minimum standards to be applied in all those countries in which forms of employee participation and representation are provided for under national corporate law;

11a. Strongly believes that a universal model for workers representation at board level is not possible at an EU level due to the large disparities in corporate governance structures that are present amongst the Member States;

12. Recommends that this Directive should be applicable to all forms of company with a supervisory board at European level, i.e. account should be taken of public and private companies, partnerships and limited companies and also workers employed in the affiliated parent and subsidiary companies;deleted

13. Believes that the presence of workers' representatives on European supervisory boards should have a say in all fundamental decisions of a company and oversee the management board, without interfering in the management’s right to manage the companycan be beneficial for both employers and employees;

14. Suggests that the nature and scope of decisions requiring approval should be determined in this directive bymay be addressed in these guidelines with minimum standards, which shouldmay be further development by rules in the Member 23 23 e.g.Article 95 AktG, Austria.

16. Demands that steps be taken, in appointing the supervisory board, to ensure that the sexes areNotes the essential contribution of women in corporate governance and repgresented according to the gender ratio in the company's workforce; calls on the Council in this connection to expedite the balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges and related measures24 ; __________________ 24 COM(2012)0614.ts the large gender gap that exists on many supervisory boards; believes that any measures taken at an EU level to address this gap should be non-binding

companies and, in the case of transnational companies, may also originate from another Member State and that trade union representatives may also be put forward and elected as external representatives;

18. Recommends, with respect to the number of worker representatives sitting on the supervisory boards of companies, including direct or indirect subsidiaries and affiliates with more than 50 employees25 , that half the number of seats on the supervisory board should be reserved for workers or their representatives; __________________deleted

20. Is convinced that such a directive would have to be furnished with effective enforcement mechanisms in order to reduce cases of circumvention, avoidance and abuseBelieves that guidelines produced at an EU level should be focused on encouraging the Member States to improve their corporate governance structures; rejects calls for binding legislative action in this area;

1. Highlights the centralityimportance of agriculture toand the agri-food sector to sustainable rural employment and social cohesion owing to its role in economic growth and diversification, and in fixing populations maintaining rural communities and discouraging rural areasdepopulation; stresses the need to strengthen the CAP budget and to ensure social fairness in itsensure that the existing CAP budget is used as efficiently and productively as possible; believes that its effective implementation;

2. Supports an integrated approach between the CAP’s second pillar and other EU funds such as the European Social Fundtresses that the CAP should be complimentary to other EU funds to avoid inefficiencies and unnecessary duplication; underlines the importance of involving local and regional administrations, where appropriate, in the management and design of rural policies;

3a. Stresses that the Commission must continue to increase its offensive trade interests in relation to opening and sustaining new markets but notes that the EU's high food safety, health and animal welfare standards, which are vital to ensure the confidence of EU consumers, should not be compromised or negotiated away;

4. Calls for the introduction of social conditionality in the CAP’s first pillarRejects any calls to introduce additional conditionalities to CAP first pillar payments; notes that Member States have the flexibility to adapt their Rural Development Programmes to reflect the priorities of the CAP, including the promotion of social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development;

4a. Welcomes the CAP simplification measures implemented to date but calls on the Commission to further develop and implement measures to introduce proportionality and flexibility in relation to the CAP's administrative burden; considers this beneficial to farmers and the well-functioning of the CAP as a whole;

and social legislation; considers that any introduction of additional conditionalities to CAP first pillar payments would considerably increase the administrative burden on farmers and limit their job creating potential;

5. Calls for a strongerRecognises the role ofor social partners in the development and implementation of agricultural policy in order to create quality jobs, ensure adequate health and safety conditions and foster the social integration of rural workers, in particular migrant workers;

6b. Encourages the Member States to facilitate and guarantee access for rural areas to new information and communication technologies so that agricultural holdings can modernise their production methods, and so that farmers and agricultural workers can benefit from online training programmes throughout their career;

9. Calls for the defence of the right to public services in rural areas againstNotes that access to public services is a key concern in rural areas and encourages schemes at a Member State level to ensure social cohesion, given the high rate of poverty and social exclusion in rural areas.

1. Highlights the centralityimportance of agriculture toand the agri-food sector to sustainable rural employment and social cohesion owing to its role in economic growth and diversification, and in fixing populations maintaining rural communities and discouraging rural areasdepopulation; stresses the need to strengthen the CAP budget and to ensure social fairness in itsensure that the existing CAP budget is used as efficiently and productively as possible; believes that its effective implementation;

2. Supports an integrated approach between the CAP’s second pillar and other EU funds such as the European Social Fundtresses that the CAP should be complimentary to other EU funds to avoid inefficiencies and unnecessary duplication; underlines the importance of involving local and regional administrations, where appropriate, in the management and design of rural policies;

3a. Stresses that the Commission must continue to increase its offensive trade interests in relation to opening and sustaining new markets but notes that the EU's high food safety, health and animal welfare standards, which are vital to ensure the confidence of EU consumers, should not be compromised or negotiated away;

4. Calls for the introduction of social conditionality in the CAP’s first pillarRejects any calls to introduce additional conditionalities to CAP first pillar payments; notes that Member States have the flexibility to adapt their Rural Development Programmes to reflect the priorities of the CAP, including the promotion of social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development;

4a. Welcomes the CAP simplification measures implemented to date but calls on the Commission to further develop and implement measures to introduce proportionality and flexibility in relation to the CAP's administrative burden; considers this beneficial to farmers and the well-functioning of the CAP as a whole;

and social legislation; considers that any introduction of additional conditionalities to CAP first pillar payments would considerably increase the administrative burden on farmers and limit their job creating potential;

5. Calls for a strongerRecognises the role ofor social partners in the development and implementation of agricultural policy in order to create quality jobs, ensure adequate health and safety conditions and foster the social integration of rural workers, in particular migrant workers;

6b. Encourages the Member States to facilitate and guarantee access for rural areas to new information and communication technologies so that agricultural holdings can modernise their production methods, and so that farmers and agricultural workers can benefit from online training programmes throughout their career;

9. Calls for the defence of the right to public services in rural areas againstNotes that access to public services is a key concern in rural areas and encourages schemes at a Member State level to ensure social cohesion, given the high rate of poverty and social exclusion in rural areas.

1a. Notes the significant role that the service sector plays in the EU economy, making up for 70% of economic activity and providing 90% of new jobs; recognises at the same time that 90% of global growth is occurring outside the EU and underlines, therefore, the crucial importance of securing new market access opportunities for EU employers and securing fair, non-discriminatory and

1a. Notes the significant role that the service sector plays in the EU economy, making up for 70% of economic activity and providing 90% of new jobs; recognises at the same time that 90% of global growth is occurring outside the EU and underlines, therefore, the crucial importance of securing new market access opportunities for EU employers and securing fair, non-discriminatory and

1b. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the agreement delivers on its potential to boost job creation in the EU, by ensuring that established standards are reinforced and improved with a view to establishing them more at the multilateral level;

1b. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the agreement delivers on its potential to boost job creation in the EU, by ensuring that established standards are reinforced and improved with a view to establishing them more at the multilateral level;

2. Calls furthermore, in negotiations on international trade in services, for mandatory working conditions to be secured in accordance with the respective laws on labour and social affairs and collective agreements, as well as for a ban on the dismantling of workers' rights and social standards when services are liberalised;deleted

2. Calls furthermore, in negotiations on international trade in services, for mandatory working conditions to be secured in accordance with the respective laws on labour and social affairs and collective agreements, as well as for a ban on the dismantling of workers’ rights and social standards when services are liberalised;deleted

3. Considers thatHighlights the right of the State to organise and regulate the provision of services, taking account of social and environmental criteria as wand maintaining the freedom for member states to regulate at all levells as the public interest, must be retained in full, and calls for services of general interest to be excluded from the agreement, irrespective of whethernd to provide, commission and fund public services in accordance with the Treaties is already provided for with other EU FTAs and should also be reflected within theyis agre provided privately or publiclyement;

3. Considers thatHighlights the right of the State to organise and regulate the provision of services, taking account of social and environmental criteria as well as the public interest, must be retained in full, and calls for services of general interest to be excluded fromconsiders that the need to maintain the freedom of the Member States to regulate at all levels and to provide, commission and fund public services in accordance with the Treaties should be reflected within theis agreement, irrespective of whether they as already provided privately or publiclyfor with other EU FTAs;

4. Rejects negotiations on the further liberalisation of services provided across EU borders so long as no EU-wide cooperation exists to maintain working conditions in accordance with the respective laws on labour and social affairs and collective agreements;deleted

4. Rejects negotiations on the further liberalisation of services provided across EU borders so long as no EU-wide cooperation exists to maintain working conditions in accordance with the respective laws on labour and social affairs and collective agreements;deleted

5. Considers furthermore that the EU- wide posting of workers should not be regulated in trade agreementit important to ensure that TiSA will not prevent the EU and the member states from safeguarding existing employment standards including for example the agreed standards on the posting of workers;

7. Calls foron the immediate publication of all documents relevant to TiSA, and urges that the European social partners be permitted to participCommission to ensure the highest level of transparency in the negotiations including by allowing access, where appropriate, transparently ino relevant texts, as

- having regard to the Eurofound report entitled ―Posted workers in the European Union (2010)1a‖ and the national reports, __________________ 1a http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publicati ons/report/2010/working-conditions- industrial-relations/posted-workers-in- the-european-union

A. having regard to the increased trend towardswhereas the nature and scale of undeclared work, and bogus self- employment, outsourcing and subcontracting, leading to an increase in precarious jobs and deteriorating levels of worker protection varies significantly between Member States,

Aa. whereas REFIT represents an important first step towards simplifying legislation and reducing administrative burdens of regulation for businesses and eliminating barriers to growth and job creation;

D. having regard to the importance of the principle of 'equal pay and social protection for the samewhereas the Commission is currently investigating ways to develop a formula introducing a principle of 'equal pay for equal work atin the same place' for all European workers,at EU level;

2. Calls on Member States to increase the staffing levels and resources of their labour inspectorates and their liaison offices, in particular for interpretation and translationexchange best practice and to consider new innovative ways of developing an adaptable and flexible labour market to meet the challenges of a global economy while ensuring high labour standards for all workers;

3. Calls for the creationon Member States in the context of athe European body of cross-border labour inspectPlatform for Undeclared Worsk to carry out on-the-spot checks in suspected cases of social dumping, including by identifying 'letterbox companies', which body would work in coordination with the platform against undeclared work in order to limit the financial burden involvedonsider ways to step up efforts for the exchange of information in order to curb undeclared work and fraud while recognising the importance of data protection and the special status of tax information;

4. Calls for the implementation by Member States ofon Member States in the context of better regulation to make electronic systems available for the registration of the prior declaration of posting missions;

5. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal for a directive based Notes the Council decision authorising Member States to ratify, for the parts falling within the competence of the EU, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 189 concerning decent work for domestic workers; Stresses that the EU cannot itself ratify any ILO Convention, as this is the preserve of individual Member States;

6. Takes the view that the competent authorities should be able to suspend theHighlights the importance of provisions of services in cases of serious breaches of legislation on postings; considers that the amount of the fines should exceed employees' contributionthe Enforcement Directive 2014/67/EU on the cross-border enforcement of financial administrative penalties and/or fines which will safeguard against unfair competition and help eliminate breaches of the legislation by employers;

7. Requests that information on postings should not be retroactive and should be entered in a European electronic register; stresses that the competent authorities of the host Member State should be able to revise form A1 in the event of serious doubts about whether a posting is genuine;deleted

8. Recalls its appeal for the creation of 'a forgery-proof European social security card (...) on which could be stored all the data needed to verify the bearer‘s employment relationship'11; wishes all the information associated with the worker's postings to feature on this card; __________________ 1 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDdeleted

9 a. Highlights that the freedom to provide services is central to the proper functioning of the single market; recognises at the same time that safeguards against unfair competition and protections for vulnerable workers are necessary and support the functioning of the single market; stresses however, that such safeguards must be proportionate and respect the principle of subsidiarity;

10. Calls on the Commission to combat the phenomenon of letterbox companies by applying more generally the principle that each company should have a single corporate headquarters; recalls the rejection by the Committee on Eeffectively monitor the on-going imployement and Social Affairs of the proposal for a directive on single-person limited liability companiation of Directive 2014/67 EU by the Member States;

11. Notes that Directive 96/71/EC refers only to Articles 57 and 66 TFEU relating to the freedom to provide services and freedom of movement; believes that its legal basis must be complemented by Articles 151 and 153 TFEUthere is need to distinguish between the posting of workers in the context of the provision of services, in accordance with Directive 96/71/EC, and the freedom of movement of workers;

12. Considers that the notionsetting of 'minimum wages' contained in Directive 96/71/EC should be revised to ensure equal pay for posted workers and local workers in similar positions; stresses the need to respect the collective agreements of the host country and to ensure, through the revision of Regulations (EC) No 883/2004 the deduction of taxes and social security contributions payable by employees and withheld by the employer; recalls that specific postings bonuses should be paid on top of remunerationis a Member States competence; stresses that introducing the notion of equal pay for equal work in the same place at EU level will have significant unintended consequences and undermine Member States economic and social models;

14. Calls for increased controls on the implementation of working time and rest times in transport; calls for the introduction of automatic digital records and the development of 'smart tachographs' for all means of transport, including inland waterway transport; recalls the desire expressed in its resolution of 3 July 2012 on road transport that 'by 2020 all vehicles which are not exempted from the application of smart tachograph' proper and efficient, non- discriminatory enforcement of the existing legislation to ensure uniform interpretation, and increased controls on the implementation of working time and rest times in transport; __________________ 12 www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do? type=TA&reference=P7-TA-2012- 0271&language=EN&ring=A7-2012- 0195#BKMD-7

16. Asks the Commission to clarify the provisions so that a distinction can be drawnbroker an exchange of views between Memployees and self- employed wber States in orkders to combat 'bogus self employment'; emphasises that airline pilots and train drivers cannot be considered to be independent of the companies for which they work;

17. Believes that the rules on cabotage are not sufficiently precise, which facilitates the practice of some road operators of engaging in permanent cabotage; wishes cabotage operations to be subject to mandatory prior notificatio and therefore should be simplified and clarified in order to improve compliance without increasing the administrative burden;

18. Stresses the need for a new regulation on groundhandling at airports to ensure mandatory social and wage protection for workers in the event of new calls for tenders or the partial loss of work; supports the introduction of rules to ensure the effective implementation of laws with regard to airlines with 'operational bases' on the territory of a Member State; calls for the clarification of the definition of 'home base' to protect the social rights of cabin crews, indeleted

19. Calls on Member States to review their laws to eliminate precarious contracts called 'zero hour contracts' or 'pay to fly contracts'; believes that pHighlights the role of the European Aviation Safety Agency in ensuring that the maximum flying hours and health and safety regulations are fully respected and complied with recgarious working conditions are an additional safety riskdless of the employment contract;

20. Calls on the Commission shortly to submit a proposal for a directive on requirements with regard to the crews of vessels providing regular cargo, passenger and ferry services operating between Member States so that the conditions applicable on board a vessel are those of the State applying the most favourable standards for workers;deleted

22. Calls on the Commission rapidly to draw up proposals to combat unfair competition inMember States and the Commission to take the necessary measures to combat unfair competition while at the same time creating an open, flexible market with a regulatory framework that reflects the dynamic nature of the digital and sharing economy;

26. Supports the development of unemployment benefit arrangements as a mechanism for absorbing asymmetric social shocks within the euro areaexchange of best practice between Member States on the development of unemployment benefit arrangements; stresses that the provision and management of social security systems is a Member State competence and are diversely structured which the Union coordinates but does not harmonise;

27. Calls on the Commission to propose aMember States together with the Commission to consider the need for taking action at EU legavel instrument line with the principle of subsidiarity to address the cross-border dimensions of outsourcing, extending the joint and several liability of the payer to include all economic sectors and the en; highlights in the regard the benefits of non-legislatirve subcontracting chaininitiatives;

28. Calls on the Commission to propose an appropriate legislative vehicle providing that companies have a duty of care for which they may be held liable, in respect of both their subsidiaries that their subcontractors operating in third countries in order to prevent the risk of violations of human rights, corruption, severe physical injury or environmental damage and the violation ofMember States and the Commission where appropriate to consider the social and economic arguments in favour of ratifying and implementing ILO Conventions;

B a. whereas the European Union and its Member States must remain committed to working with the people of Tunisia and its government to promote common interests, including in trade, investment, tourism, culture, and security;

2. Calls on participants of the Deauville Partnership to fulfil pledge commitments; considers that the situation in Tunisia justifies the launch of a real ‘Marshall Plan’ with appropriate funding to support the consolidation of the democratic transition and foster investment and development in all sectors of the economy, in a comprehensive way; further believes that economic development remains central to Tunisia's democratic aspirations and encourages the further removal of trade barriers with the EU to stimulate economic growth, employment, and foreign direct investment;

5. Welcomes the establishment of an EU-Tunisia JPC as a tool for developing a structured political dialogue on democracy, human rights, the rule of law and any topic of mutual interest, and calls for the launching of specific initiatives of support to the PRA with other Parliament committees, such as the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs;

5 a. welcomes the bilateral cooperation between EU Member States and the Tunisian authorities in areas such as defence, security, and strategic communications as a commitment to peace, counter-terrorism, and institutional reform; further believes enhanced communications allows the Tunisian people to make informed choices about their own lives, as well as enhancing the international reputation of the country as a whole;

civil society groups, since these have proven to be of fundamental importance for democratic transition and overall development, government accountability, and monitoring of respect for human rights, including the protection of womeall victims of persecution and discrimination;

8. Calls for support for gender- balanced policies, for an increased participation of women in public life and the private sector, in particular as enshrined in Article 46 of the Tunisian Constitution, and for the inclusion of young people in political life, especially regarding the promotion of youth participation in local elections; welcomes the legislative provisions regarding youth representation at local and regional elections; further encourages the development of mentoring programmes for emerging female leaders with the potential to support their access to decision making positions;

20. Calls on the Member States to demonstrate support and political will in order to speed up the recovery of frozen Tunisian assets; welcomes the Council decision of 28 January 2016 to extend the asset freeze of 48 persons by one year;

26 a. encourages the development of business start-up programmes targeting women and young people specifically in order to provide business management training and access to financial support as part of measures to enhance the SME sector;

30 a. supports efforts to enhance cooperation and coordination with the Tunisian authorities in order to combat the shared terrorist threat, including via capacity building measures; encourages the Tunisian authorities, however, to respond proportionately to such threats, including via new legislation, in order to safeguard newly-won democratic freedoms and fundamental rights;

B a. whereas the European Union and its Member States must remain committed to working with the people of Tunisia and its government to promote common interests, including in trade, investment, tourism, culture, and security;

2. Calls on participants of the Deauville Partnership to fulfil pledge commitments; considers that the situation in Tunisia justifies the launch of a real ‘Marshall Plan’ with appropriate funding to support the consolidation of the democratic transition and foster investment and development in all sectors of the economy, in a comprehensive way; further believes that economic development remains central to Tunisia's democratic aspirations and encourages the further removal of trade barriers with the EU to stimulate economic growth, employment, and foreign direct investment;

5. Welcomes the establishment of an EU-Tunisia JPC as a tool for developing a structured political dialogue on democracy, human rights, the rule of law and any topic of mutual interest, and calls for the launching of specific initiatives of support to the PRA with other Parliament committees, such as the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs;

5 a. welcomes the bilateral cooperation between EU Member States and the Tunisian authorities in areas such as defence, security, and strategic communications as a commitment to peace, counter-terrorism, and institutional reform; further believes enhanced communications allows the Tunisian people to make informed choices about their own lives, as well as enhancing the international reputation of the country as a whole;

civil society groups, since these have proven to be of fundamental importance for democratic transition and overall development, government accountability, and monitoring of respect for human rights, including the protection of womeall victims of persecution and discrimination;

8. Calls for support for gender- balanced policies, for an increased participation of women in public life and the private sector, in particular as enshrined in Article 46 of the Tunisian Constitution, and for the inclusion of young people in political life, especially regarding the promotion of youth participation in local elections; welcomes the legislative provisions regarding youth representation at local and regional elections; further encourages the development of mentoring programmes for emerging female leaders with the potential to support their access to decision making positions;

20. Calls on the Member States to demonstrate support and political will in order to speed up the recovery of frozen Tunisian assets; welcomes the Council decision of 28 January 2016 to extend the asset freeze of 48 persons by one year;

26 a. encourages the development of business start-up programmes targeting women and young people specifically in order to provide business management training and access to financial support as part of measures to enhance the SME sector;

30 a. supports efforts to enhance cooperation and coordination with the Tunisian authorities in order to combat the shared terrorist threat, including via capacity building measures; encourages the Tunisian authorities, however, to respond proportionately to such threats, including via new legislation, in order to safeguard newly-won democratic freedoms and fundamental rights;

A c. whereas despite the stabilisation of the EU unemployment rate in 2014 at the level of 10,2 % (11,6 % in the Euro area) and its slight fall in early 2015, the number of unemployed - about 23 million people in 2015 remains historically high;

Aj. whereas the ECB argues that the sovereign debt crisis increased banks' financing costs in the Eurozone crisis countries, which were then passed on to SMEs in the form of higher lending rates or smaller loans;

Al. whereas the unlevel playing field between Multinational Corporations (MNC) and SMEs also results from the practice of profits shifting to the Members States or third countries considered as tax heavens;

1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for job creation for the SME sector Member States must address the following problems, which are unequally present in different regions: skills scarcity and brain drain; regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty; the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs);

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing toRecognises the growing significance of self-employment and micro enterprises, which are of vital importance for boosting innovation and entrepreneurship; is concerned, however, at the ‘growing number of micro-enterprises’, but, rather, underminesphenomenon of bogus self- employment across the EU, which cannot the image of entrepreneurship;

5 a. Highlights that the administrative burden of regulation is disproportionately higher for the self-employed and micro enterprises than for larger companies; considers in this regard that any measures concerning 'bogus self-employed workers' must be clearly targeted and must not place additional administrative burden on the individual;

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be exempted from excessively burdensome administrative procedurethe impact of administrative requirements is felt disproportionately by SMEs and that measures such as exemptions should therefore be systematically considered to minimize such requirements, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessaryir employees receive adequate health and safety standardsprotection;

25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs are treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that these practices should be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field for SMEs and restorenhancing their employment creation capacities;

26 a. Calls on the Member States to adopt the principle of income taxation in the place where it is generated and other measures against profits shifting practices of MNC in order to ensure a level playing field with the SMEs thus their job creation potential;

29 a. Draws attention to the regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs' access to funding; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs been under financial and economic constraints.

30 a. Calls on the Members State to encourage SMEs to become members of representative organisations in order to make their voice heard at national and European levels, as it is mostly the case of multinational corporation;

A c. whereas despite the stabilisation of the EU unemployment rate in 2014 at the level of 10,2 % (11,6 % in the Euro area) and its slight fall in early 2015, the number of unemployed - about 23 million people in 2015 remains historically high;

Aj. whereas the ECB argues that the sovereign debt crisis increased banks' financing costs in the Eurozone crisis countries, which were then passed on to SMEs in the form of higher lending rates or smaller loans;

Al. whereas the unlevel playing field between Multinational Corporations (MNC) and SMEs also results from the practice of profits shifting to the Members States or third countries considered as tax heavens;

1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for job creation for the SME sector Member States must address the following problems, which are unequally present in different regions: skills scarcity and brain drain; regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty; the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs);

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing toRecognises the growing significance of self-employment and micro enterprises, which are of vital importance for boosting innovation and entrepreneurship; is concerned, however, at the ‘growing number of micro-enterprises’, but, rather, underminesphenomenon of bogus self- employment across the EU, which cannot the image of entrepreneurship;

5 a. Highlights that the administrative burden of regulation is disproportionately higher for the self-employed and micro enterprises than for larger companies; considers in this regard that any measures concerning 'bogus self-employed workers' must be clearly targeted and must not place additional administrative burden on the individual;

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be exempted from excessively burdensome administrative procedurethe impact of administrative requirements is felt disproportionately by SMEs and that measures such as exemptions should therefore be systematically considered to minimize such requirements, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessaryir employees receive adequate health and safety standardsprotection;

25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs are treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that these practices should be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field for SMEs and restorenhancing their employment creation capacities;

26 a. Calls on the Member States to adopt the principle of income taxation in the place where it is generated and other measures against profits shifting practices of MNC in order to ensure a level playing field with the SMEs thus their job creation potential;

29 a. Draws attention to the regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs' access to funding; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs been under financial and economic constraints.

30 a. Calls on the Members State to encourage SMEs to become members of representative organisations in order to make their voice heard at national and European levels, as it is mostly the case of multinational corporation;

5. Urges the Commission, when drafting and assessing legislation, to take greater account of the burden ithat legislation may impose on SMEs, which create 85% of new jobs; calls therefore upon the Council, the Commission and the Parliament to ensure the 'think-small- first' principle is applied when drafting and amending legislation;

5a. Believes that an Annual Burden Survey would allow legislators to more easily identify where the administrative burden of EU legislation could be reduced with a view to increasing compliance, aiding swift implementation and cutting red-tape; calls on the Commission to introduce Burden Reduction Targets;

6. Welcomes the efforts made by the Commission during the past years and acknowledges the range of measures that have been put in place to assist the Member States with implementation such as correlation tables, an annual scoreboard and guidelines;deleted

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to coordinate their efforts at an earlier stage of the legislative process with a view to ensuring that future EU law can be implemented more effectively; underlines the important role and democratic legitimacy of the Member States in this respect;

7a. Recalls Article 155 TFEU; Calls on the social partners to embrace better regulation tools, to increase the use of impact assessments in their negotiations and to refer agreements proposing legislative action to the Commission's Impact Assessment Board;

A. whereas unemployment has been diminishing since 2013 thanks to supportive macroeconomic policies, low energy costs which have increased spending power and the impact of structural reforms; whereas it nevertheless remains too high in many Member States, currently affecting 9.9 % of active citizens, i.e. 23 million Europeans, about half of them being long-term unemployed;

A a. Whereas the effects of the Eurozone- crisis, especially high public and private debt, have yet to be solved and continue to have a negative economic and social effect on the economies of the EU; whereas the Eurozone continues to be susceptible to asymmetric economic shocks and lags behind the rest of Europe in regards to economic growth;

B a. Whereas the primary responsibility for tackling youth unemployment rests with the Member States in terms of developing and implementing labour market regulatory frameworks, education and training systems and active labour market policies;

2. Notes that good and quality jobs constitute an essential pillar for social fairness, promoting human dignity; believes that in this sense employment and growth must be placed at the centre of Member States and EU policies, especially for youth, as a way to construct a more sustainable social economies in the European Union;

2 a. Is concerned of the effects that brain drain of highly qualified graduates from the EU to more competitive and wealthy economies such as Switzerland, USA and Norway combined with the influx of migrants with lower average qualifications will have on the EU's ability to regain competitiveness and create more high skilled jobs;

3. Calls on the Commission to foster, at the exchange of best practice between Member State level,s on new forms of cooperation involving governments, enterprises, educational institutions and social partners,systems to the needs of the labour market;

4. Recalls the importance of skills and competences acquired in non-formal and informal learning environments in terms of improving the employability of young people; stresses, therefore, thecalls, therefore, on the Member States to consider the strong social and economic importance of creating a validation system for non-formal and informal forms of knowledge and experience, especially those acquired via voluntary activities;

5. WelcomNotes the Commission´s proposal to enhance the Youth Guarantee at national, regional and local level, and stresses its importance for school-to-work transitions; stresses the need to guarantee suitable forms of collaboration between public and private employment services; ; deplores the fact that according to the ECA the youth guarantee has not been effectively implemented in many Member States1 a ; Believes there is a role for the Commission to focus Member States attention on the need for action and to facilitate the exchange of best-practice on how best to combat youth unemployment; __________________ 1a http://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocu ments/SR15_03/SR15_03_EN.pdf #38,39

7 b. Recognises the growing trend of companies returning production and services back to the EU and the opportunities this brings for job creation in the Member States; believes that the economies of the EU have a unique opportunity to accelerate this trend of re- shoring by reinforcing a stable and predictable regulatory environment;

8. Notes that the EUmany EU Member States continues to suffer from structural problems that need to be addressed urgently, pointing up the need toreinforcing a favourable environment for business with a view to creating more quality jobs while balancing the social and economic dimensions; stresses that those priorities will only be achieved if investment in human capital is prioritised as a common strategy;

12. Calls on the Member States to gradually shift taxes from labour to otherconsider the strong arguments in favour of and to from labour to other sources, and to implement tax rules that foster incentives to entrepreneurship and employment creation, especially for highly qualified young people, in order to boost research and innovation projects within European enterprises;

19 a. Reminds the Commission of its Budget Review 2010 which identified 'EU added value' as one of its core principles; insists that this principle represents the cornerstone of all expenditures, which must also be guided by efficiency, effectiveness and value for money, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity as defined by Article 5 TEU;

24. Agrees on the need to develop a process of upward economic and social convergence in order to foster social and economic cohesion between Member States and their regions, but points out that this must be viewed as a goal of a common projectcommon goal in which social dialogue can plays a key role;

28. Calls on the Member States to implement the necessary measures for the inclusion of refugees; stresses that such an approach will require the allocation of funds that, in so fragile a situation, cannot be provided solely by Member States; calls on the Commission to providedeleted

28. Calls on the Member States to implement the necessary measures for the inclusion of refugees; stresses that such an approach will require the allocation of funds that, in so fragile a situation, cannot of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) within the regulation of the Dublin III regulation; stresses that such an approach will require the provide the funding required to develop such a strategy as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) by identifying savings within the agreed financial ceilings;

B. whereas trafficking in human beings is defined by the United Nations (Palermo Protocol) as the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of another person, for the purpose of exploitation; whereas the exploitation includes, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; expresses its concern, in this regard, about the practice of commercial surrogacy;

Ka. whereas access to justice ranges from being problematic to simply denied to the majority of the global population; whereas in many countries less than one percent of crimes lead to a successful prosecution; whereas corruption and lack of capacity remains a major problem of police and judiciary organizations in many countries;

2a. Deplores furthermore the wide gap between legislation that does exist and implementation thereof, including the limited or non-existing access to justice for victims on the one hand and lack of prosecution of perpetrators on the other

14. Calls onUrges the EU and its Member States to make a particularny needed effort to combat forced labour in EU industries abroad, andnd SME, operating in the Member States and abroad; Urges the EU and its Member States to make any needed effort in relation to third countries, byin order to make them applying and enforcing labour standards and to supporting governments in adopting labour laws providing minimum protection standards for workers, including foreign workers and to make these standards a precondition for European companies operating in third countries;

28. Regrets that cross-border labour migration has to date not received sufficient attention; underscoracknowledges the potential of formalised labour migration as a means of preventing trafficking in human beings and to save lives;

29. Underlines the numerous challenges linked to cross-border labour migration, particularly the risk of migrants being illegalised and deprived of their most fundamental rights; calls for the establishment of cross-border labour migration mechanisms in the EU and at international level in order to increase and formalise regular labour migration;deleted

33. Calls on the EU to review its assistance programmes regarding trafficking in human beings, to make funding more targeted and to make THB an area of cooperation in its own right, in particular focussing on fixing broken justice systems; urges the Commission to regularly re-evaluate its list of priority countries;

34. Urges the EU to refrain from addressing THB primarily as a security issue and from disproportionately focusing on the fight against smuggling; urges the EU and its Member States to pay attention to the identification of refugees and migrants as victims of THB or as victims of violations and abuse as part of smuggling;deleted

1. Emphasises that the post-electoral 1. revisionew of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) must address the new political challenges facing the EU; underlines that reallocation of funds for emergencies is not a sustainable solution; insists that the existing resource commit in order to enable the Union and Member States to reassess their priorities; underlines that the flexibility mechanisms within the MFF enable the EU to mobilise the necessary funds to react to unforeseen events; believes that the existing resources in both commitments and payments for achieving the Union’s strategic objectives and greater economic, social and territorial cohesion should be maintained;

1a. Acknowledges that the MFF ceilings form only one aspect of future budgeting and that efficient and effective spending is equally – if not more – important; recalls, furthermore, that all EU spending must be targeted at those regions and Member States that need it most, in line with the principle of equality and solidarity;

1b. Believes that the principle of European added value should represent the cornerstone of all future expenditures, which also must be guided by the principle of efficiency, effectiveness and value for money, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity as defined by Article 5 TEU;

2a. Notes that gaining the full support achieve our social and employment commitments under the EU2020 strategy; believes that the challenge facing the EU will not be to spend more, but to spend more efficiently;

3. Insists on the continuation of the Youth Employment Initiative and calls for the resources for this initiative to be provided until 2020Notes that the Youth Employment Initiative was introduced in the current programming period to foster employment in particular for young people with a Reminds the Commission of the joint statement as part of the 2016 Budget agreement in which the Commission committed to draw lessons from the results of the YEI evaluation; Insists on that any proposals for the continuation of the Youth Employment Initiative must take the results of the evaluation fully into account in order to move towards performance based budgeting;

4. Notes that new legislation on EURES and the European platform for tackling undeclared work will draw on Employment and Social Innovation programme resources and insists that adequppropriate funding for this programme be guaranteensured in the EU budget;

5. Stresses that the resources of the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived areidentifying savings elsewhere in the EU budget for example, in lines that are not achieving their policy objectives or in budget lines that have been under implemented; insists that the ESF share amount to 25 % of the total cohesion budget, that no reductions in the national envelopes for ESF measures be made and that sufficient cash flow be provided annually for payments from the EU budget;

6. Emphasises that the policies for poverty reduction and social inclusion and the social economymake concrete proposals for the establishment of a performance-based public budgeting model in which each budget line is accompanied by objectives and outputs to be measured by performance indicators;

7. Draws attention to the huge problem of child poverty in Europe, which is afflicting over 20 million children, and reiterates its call for the establishment of a Child Guarantee with dedicated special resources, together with programmes tostrongly believes that EU funding, particularly that under Heading 1a and 1b should not be used to subsidise national approaches, but should be used to provide additional programmes according to the decision of the Member States;

(7) In his report to the Commission (the ‘Lamy report’)22 , Pascal Lamy, the Chairman of the high-level group on the future use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band, recommended that the 700 MHz frequency band be made available for wireless broadband by 2020 (+/- two years). This would help achieve the goal of long-term regulatory predictability for DTT in having access to the sub-700 MHz frequency band until 2030, although this would have to be reviewed by 2025. The Lamy Report also recommended national flexibility in spectrum use of the sub-700 MHz frequency band, which is limited to downlink-only. Downlink-only is the restriction of all transmissions in a wireless system, independent of its technology, to unidirectional transmission from central infrastructure stations such as a TV broadcasting tower or a mobile phones. __________________ 22 Report by Mr Pascal Lamy, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/digital- agenda/en/news/report-results-work-high- level-group-future-use-uhf-band.

(8) The Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) recommends in its opinion on a long-term strategy on the future use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union (the ‘RSPG opinion’) the adoption of a coordinated approach across the Union to make the 700 MHz frequency band available for effective use for wireless broadband electronic communications services by the end of 2020. This would be in conjunction with ensuring long-term availability until 2030 of the sub-700 MHz frequency band for the downlink-only provision of audiovisual media services. The RSPG particularly recommends introducingrecommends that Member States should have the flexibility sto thatuse the sub-700 MHz frequency band can also be used for downlink-onlyfor wireless broadband electronic communications services.

(12) In line with Articles 9 and 9a of Directive 2002/21/EC, Member States should apply a flexible approach where possible and may, in accordance with the primary allocation to broadcasting services, as set out in the International Telecommunications Union's Radio Regulations (ITU-RR), allow the introduction of alternative downlink-only uses such as terrestrial wireless broadband electronic communications services in the sub-700 MHz frequency band in accordance with national needs for distribution of audiovisual media services to a mass audience. When allowing use within the sub-700 MHz frequency band for downlink-only terrestrial wireless broadband electronic communications services, Member States should ensure that such use does not affect the use of sub-700 MHz band for digital terrestrial broadcasting in neighbouring Member States, as provided for in the agreement at the Regional Radiocommunication Conference of 200625 . __________________ 25 Regional Radiocommunication Conference of 2006 for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz (RRC-06) in Geneva.

(1) By 30 June 2020, Member States shall allow the use of the 694-790 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing wireless broadband electronic communications services only under harmonised technical conditions set by the Commission pursuant to Article 4 of Decision 676/2002/EC. A Member State may delay, on the basis of reasonable grounds, the making available of the band for wireless broadband electronic communications services for up to two years. Where a Member State does so, it pursuant to Article 5. Where necessary, Member States shall carry out the authorisation process or amend relevant existing rights to use the spectrum in accordance with Directive 2002/20/EC, in order to allow that use.

(2) If Member States authorise the use of spectrum in the 470-694 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communication services other than television broadcasting networks, such use shall be limited to downlink-only. Such use shall be without prejudice to obligations resulting from international agreements and Union law.

Member States may, where appropriate and in accordance with Union law, ensure that the direct cost of migration or reallocation of spectrum usage is adequately compensated in accordance with national law.

(20) Authorities, including in third countries, issuing certificates of qualifications, service record books and logbooks in accordance with rules that are identical to those of this Directive are processing personal data. For the purpose of evaluation of the Directive, for statistical purposes, for maintaining safety, for ease of navigation and in order to facilitate the exchange of information between the authorities involved in the implementation and enforcement of this Directive, these authorities and, where relevantnecessary, international organisations that established these identical rules, should also have access to the database kept by the Commission. This access should however be subject to adequate high level of data protection, includingspecifically of personal data.

framework on the recognition of minimum professional qualifications in inland navigation, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union and respecting willingness of the Member States to cooperate. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

2. The relevant competent authoritiMember States shall consider in particular whether those provisions are objectively justified on the basis of public policy, public security or public health, or by overriding reasons in the public interest, such as preserving the financial equilibrium of the social security system, the protection of consumers, recipients of services and workers, the safeguarding of the proper administration of justice, fairness of trade transactions, combating fraud and prevention of tax evasion and avoidance, road safety, the protection of the environment and the urban and cultural policy objectives.

D. whereas the EU’s security environment is increasingly unstable and volatile owing to a large number of longstanding or newly emerging challenges, including violent conflicts, terrorism, organised crime, unprecedented migration waves and climate change, which are impossible to address at national level and requirequire national, regional and global responses;

(a) to continue to support multilateral attempts to find lasting political solutions to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, and in the Middle East and North Africa, in particular in Syria, Libyathe world; to continue to support the work of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary- General for Syria, the Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, and the Special Envoy of the Un Secretary-General for Yemen; to call for continued humanitarian, financial and political assistance from the international community in order to address the humanitarian situation, and to work towards the immediate cessation of violence;

(d) to promote a culture of prevention within the UN system in order to improve its capacity to respond more quickly to emerging crises and potential threats to peace and security, while promoting international action to bring those responsible for violence to justice; to strive to enhance early communication and further develop procedures for crisis consultation between the EU and the UN in order to better coordinate their crisis response, avoiding unnecessary duplication;

(f) to continue to support the efforts to further the operationalisation of R2P and to support the UN in continuing to play a critical role in assisting countries in the implementation of R2P; to further strengthen the role of R2P as an important governing principle in all

(fa) to support and strengthen international efforts through the United Nations to end the use of children in armed conflict, as well as to more effectively address the impact of conflict and post-conflict situations on women and girls;

(j) to provide support to the UN Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force in order to ensure coordination and coherence in the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, using the resources and expertise of 25 UN system entities, national policy and security agencies, and of Interpol;

(n) to promote greater support for the work of UNHCR in implementing its international mandate to protect refugees, including vulnerable groups such as women or children with disabilities; to stress the high funding gap between UNHCR’s budgetary needs and funds received and demand greater global solidarity;

(ud) to emphasise the importance of the principles of self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter, chapter 1, article 1, part two, and in the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights, article 15, in the pre-emption and resolution of political and military conflicts; to call upon the UN General Assembly to initiate a comprehensive debate on the forms of self-determination, regionalisation, and autonomy, that have the possibility to defuse a number of emerging and active conflicts worldwide;

(va) to encourage UN Member States to meet their commitments on development aid spending and for governments to be held to account for the implementation of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

(x) to support actively a comprehensivemeaningful dialogue on reform of the United Nations Security Council in order to ensure the Council is able to deal effectively with threats to international peace and security; to promote the revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, and improved coordination and coherence of the action of all UN institutions, which should enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, capacity and representativeness of the system in order to respond more quickly to global challenges; to support and build on the increased transparency in the process for the selection of the next UN Secretary- General, with candidates’ presentations being made in the General Assembly;

The President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors shall be elected by secret ballot, in accordance with Rule 182. Nominations shall be with consent. They may only be made by a political group or by at least 40 Members. However, if the number of nominations does not exceed the number of seats to be filled, the candidates may be elected by acclamation. Members shall be permitted to serve a maximum of two

1. Notes with concern that the estimated error level in the policy area of economic, social and territorial cohesion is 5,2%, which represents a small decrease of 0,5% from last year but is still unacceptably high and remains far from the target of 2%;

1. Notes with concern that the estimated error level in the policy area of economic, social and territorial cohesion is 5,2%, which represents a small decrease of 0,5% from last year but is still unacceptably high and remains far from the target of 2%;

5. NotWelcomes the ECA recommendation 5. that the Commission fundamentally reconsiders the design and delivery mechanism for the ESIFs when making its legislative proposal for the next programming period and takes into account the suggestions of the high level simplification group;

5. NotWelcomes the ECA recommendation 5. that the Commission fundamentally reconsiders the design and delivery mechanism for the ESIFs when making its legislative proposal for the next programming period and takes into account the suggestions of the high level simplification group;

6a. Calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of including EU funding programmes in their Annual Burden Survey as agreed in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-making of 13 April 2016;

7a. Is concerned with the shortcomings in relation to information provided by the Member States concerning key aspects included in their national Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans; notes that scheme;

7a. Is concerned with the shortcomings in relation to information provided by the Member States concerning key aspects included in their national Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans; notes that examples of shortcomings include inadequate monitoring and reporting arrangements for the Youth Guarantee scheme;

7b. Welcomes the increased focus on results under the current programming period; considers, however, that further developing result indicators and monitoring systems would contribute to sound financial accountability and increase the efficiency of future operating programmes;

4a. Notes the need for clear orientation and direction of the Centre, to further develop personnel management system and to closely link activities to indicators in order to improve the overall performance of the agency;

6a. Welcomes the ongoing evaluation and fitness check of the EU Agencies evaluations should contribute to informed decisions of the EP regarding the effectiveness and impact of agencies' contributions;

– having regard to the provisions of the UN legal instruments in the sphere of human rights, in particularcluding those concerning the right to a nationality, such as the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration and onof Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

– having regard to other UN instruments on statelessness and the right to a nationality, such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) executive committee’s Conclusion No. 106 on Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons, endorsed by UN General Assembly resolution 61/137 of 2006,

– having regard to the UNHCR’'s Campaign to End Statelessness by 2024 and the InternationGlobal Campaign to End Gender Discrimination infor Equal Nationality LawRights supported by the UNHCR, UN Women and others, and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council,

C. whereas a stateless person is defined in the 1954 Convention Relating to the causes of statelessness can vary, including but not limited to state succession, events surrounding being forced to flee, migration, changes and gaps in nationality laws, expiration of nationality through having lived outside of one’'s country for an extended period of time, gender discriminationarbitrary deprivation or nationality, discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity or other grounds, administrative and bureaucratic hurdles;

limited to problems relating to birth certificates and other civil status documents, as well as other documentproblems relating to property rights, educational achievement and business ownership, political representation and voting participation, access to social security and public services; whereas statelessness may contribute to human trafficking and child abuse;

F. whereas The Global Action Plan to End Statelessness: 2014 – 2024 of the UNHCR aims to support governments in resolveing existing major situations of statelessness, prevent new cases of emerging and better identify and protect stateless populations;

J. whereas many of the world’s 10 million stateless persons reside in South and Southeast Asia, with the Rohingya of Myanmar being the single largest stateless group in the world, with over 800 0001 million persons under the UNHCR’s statelessness mandate, but large communities of stateless people are also found in Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and elsewhere; whereas, Vietnam, the other do not and not all countries keep statistics on this issue; whereas South and Southeast Asia have both protracted and unresolved cases, as well as cases where effective progress has been made, at least on paper;

M. whereas the hundreds of thousands of so-called ‘Biharis’ found themselves statelwere not treated as citizens of Bangladessh after the Bangladesh War of Independence, when Pakistan refused their repatriation; whereas, however, a number of court rulings since 2003 have restored the Biharis’ right toconfirmed that the Biharis are citizens of Beangali citizenshipladesh; whereas a large number of Biharis still live in extremely precarious conditions in camps andare not fully integrated in Bangladesh society and development programmes and many have not been able to fully exercise their newreconfirmed rights.;

N. whereas there are many other stateless groups in South and Southeast Asia; whereas, however, a number of positive developments have taken place in recent years, such as in Indonesia, which reformed its nationality law in 2006 so that citizenship can no longer be lost by discrimination in the acquisition of nationality, in Cambodia, where birth registration has been made free of charge in the first 30 days after the birth, in Vietnam, which in 2008 granted nationality tofacilitated the naturalisation of anyone who had been a stateless resident living in Vietnam for over 20 years, and in Thailand where following reform to nationality and civil registration laws 23.000 stateless persons have acquired nationality since 2011;

1a. Is extremely concerned at the situation of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar; is appalled at the reports of massive human rights violations and continued repression, discrimination and non-recognition of the Rohingya as part of Myanmar society, in what looks like a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing; stresses that the Rohingya have lived on the territory of Myanmar for many generations and are fully entitled to Myanmarese citizenship, as they have held it in the past, and all the rights and obligations this encompasses; urges the government and authorities of Myanmar to restore Myanmarese citizenship to the Rohingya minority; urges furthermore the immediate opening of Rakhine State for international observers, NGOs and journalists;

2a. Strongly encourages states to implement the safeguard, also enshrined in the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, that a person born in the state also will be granted nationality if the person otherwise would be stateless;

– consistently emphasising that national identity management regimes need to include and provide identity documentation to all persons on the territory, including hard-to-reach and marginalised groups who may be at risk of statelessness or lack a nationality;

– addressing the issue of the content and application of nationality laws and the arbitrary deprivation or denial of the right to a nationality on the grounds of ethnicity, which is a major cause of statelessness in the region;

– ensuring follow-up, such as – awareness raising and technical support for public administrations, including at local level for when there have been positive developments that need to be implemented in practice, such as in Bangladesh, where the Biharis have been granted the right to citizenship and voting rightsThailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and Bangladesh, where the citizenship of the Biharis, including their voting rights, was restored;

3. Member States that do not maintain screening mechanisms shall provide the Commission with an annual report covering foreign directs investments that took place in their territory on a case-by-case basis if they consider the investments liable to prejudice public order or security in other Member States, on the basis of information available to them.

1. Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of any foreign direct investments that are undergoing screening within the framework of their screening mechanisms which it considers likely to affect public order or security in another Member State or in the Union, within 520 working days from the start of the screening. As part of the information, and when applicable, the screening Member States shall endeavour to indicate whether it considers that the foreign direct investment undergoing screening is likely to fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

5. Comments pursuant to paragraphs 2 or opinions pursuant to paragraph 3 shall be addressed to the Member State where the foreign direct investment is planned or has been completed within a reasonable period of time, and in any case no later than 25 working days following receipt of the information referred to in paragraphs 1 or 4. In cases where the opinion of the Commission follows comments from other Member States, the Commission shall have 25 additional working days for issuing the opinion.deleted

4. The opinion of the Commission 4. shall be communicated to the other Member States with the permission of the Member State where the foreign direct investment is planned or has been completed in strict compliance with applicable rules of notification of EC decisions.

E a. whereas the EU-India Agenda for Action - 2020 reaffirms the commitment of both parties to establishing a stable economic climate favourable to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation; whereas existing dialogue and consultation mechanisms will need to be strengthened to take on this enhanced role;

G. whereas India is making progress towards turning itself into a vibrant democracy and an open society with a free press and an active civil society; whereas the EU and India have regularly exchanged best practices regarding human rights and democratic practices;

7. Reiterates its support for the establishment of a comprehensive, complete, balanced and ambitious free trade agreement between the EU and India, which should be economically, socially and politically valuable for both sides;

17. Calls for renewed efforts of rapprochement and restoration of good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan, and for working, including though various regional cooperation fora, towards the establishment of durable peace and cooperation, which would positively contribute to the economic development and security of the region; stresses the utmost importance of combating terrorism, in all its form and manifestations;

17 b. Calls for the regional actors, the EU and the international community to encourage and support the reconciliation process between India and Pakistan over Kashmir drawing on the expertise and experience of existing fora for regional cooperation, and to promote the establishment of a durable peace process for the region; calls on the EU to support the involvement of local civil society in the peace process and, above all, to sustain people-to-people projects in order to promote dialogue and collaboration among Pakistani, Indian and Kashmiri NGOs;

26 a. Deplores the means used by the Indian security forces, including the use of pellet guns, in Jammu and Kashmir, to control expression of dissent on the part of ordinary citizens, which have resulted in numerous fatalities and permanent injuries; believes that such methods have no place in law enforcement and should be banned immediately;

F. whereas acts of corruption and human rights violations typically involve the misuse of power, lack of accountability and the institutionalisation of various forms of discrimination, clientelism, and the distortion of market mechanisms;

H. whereas corruption in the judicial sector breaches the principles of non- discrimination, access to justice and the right to a fair trial and to an effective remedy, as well as discouraging entrepreneurship and investment;

(6) A uniform and targeted set of mandatory rules should therefore be established at Union level to ensure a fair, business users of online intermediation services are afforded appropriate transparency as well as effective redress possibilities throughout the Union. Those rules should also provide for appropriate transparency as regards the ranking of corporate website users in the search results generated by online search engines. At the same, those rules should be such as to safeguard the important innovation potential of the wider online platform economy.

(11) For reasons of consistency, the definition of online search engine used in this Regulation should be aligned with the definition used in Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council21 . _________________ 21Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union (OJ L 194, 19.7.2016, p. 1).deleted

(14) Ensuring transparency in the general terms and conditions can be essential to promoting sustainable business relationships and to preventing unfair behaviour to the detriment of business users. Providers of online intermediation services should therefore also ensure that the terms and conditions are easily available at all stages of the contractual relationship, including to prospective business users at the pre-contractual phase, and that any modifications to those terms are notified to business users within a set notice period which is reasonable and proportionate in light of the specific circumstances and which is at least 15 days. That notice period should not apply where, and to the extent that, it is waived in an unambiguous manner by the business user concerned or where, and to the extent that, the need to implement the modification without respecting the notice period stems from a legal obligation incumbent on the service provider under Union or national law.

(16) A provider of online intermediation services can have legitimate reasons to decide to suspend or terminate the provision of its services, in whole or in part, to a given business user, including by delisting individual goods or services of a given business user or effectively removing search results. However, given that such decisions can significantly affect the interests of the business user concerned, they should be properly informed of the reasons thereof. The statement of reasons should allow business users to ascertain whether there is scope to challengerequest a review of the decision, thereby improving the possibilities for business users to seek effective redress where necessary. In addition, requiring a statement of reasons should help to prevent or remedy any unintended removal of online content provided by business users which the provider incorrectly considers to be illegal content, in line with Commission Recommendation (EU) No 2018/33422 . The statement of reasons should identify the objective ground or grounds for the decision, based on the grounds that the provider had set out in advance in its terms and conditions, and refer in a proportionate manner to the relevant specific circumstances that led to that decision. _________________ 22 Commission Recommendation (EU) No

(18) Similarly, the ranking of websites by the providers of online search engines, notably of those websites through which undertakings offer goods and services to consumers, has an important impact on consumer choice and the commercial success of corporate website users. Providers of online search engines should therefore provide a description of the main parameters determining the ranking of all indexed websites, including those of corporate website users as well as other websites. In addition to the characteristics of the goods and services and their to obtain an adequate understanding of whether, and if so how and to what extent, certain design characteristics of the website used, such as their optimisation for display on mobile telecommunications devices, is taken into account. In the absence of a contractual relationship between providers of online search engines and corporate website users, that description should be available to the public in an obvious and easily accessible location on the relevant online search engine. To ensure predictability for corporate website users, the description should also be kept up to date, including the possibility that any changes to the main parameters should be made easily identifiable. Whilst the providers are under no circumstances required to disclose any trade secrets as defined in Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council23 when complying with this requirement to disclose the main ranking parameters, the description given should at least be based on actual data on the relevance of the ranking parameters used. _________________ 23Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure (OJ L 157, 15.6.2016, p. 1).deleted

(25) Providers of online intermediation services should bear a reasonable proportion of the total costs of the mediation, taking into account all relevant elements of the case at hand. To that aim, the mediator should suggest which proportion is reasonable in the individual case. However, that proportion should never be less than half of those costs.deleted

1. This Regulation lays down rules to ensure that business users of online business-to-consumer intermediation services and corporate website users in relation to online search engineswhere an official business-to- platform relationship is established are granted appropriate transparency and effective redress possibilities.

2. This Regulation shall apply to online intermediation services and online search engines provided, or offered to be provided, to business users and corporate website users, respectively, that have their place of establishment or residence in the Union and that, through online intermediation services or online search engines, offer goods or services to consumers located in the Union, irrespective of the place of establishment or residence of the providers of those services.

(5) ‘online search engine’ means a digital service that allows users to perform searches of, in principle, all websites or websites in a particular language on the basis of a query on any subject in the form of a keyword, phrase or other input, and returns links in which information related to the requested content can be found;deleted

(8) ‘ranking’ means the relative prominence given to the goods or services offered to consumers by business users through online intermediation services, or to websites indexed for consumers by online search engines, as presented, organised or communicated to those consumers by the providers of online intermediation services or by providers of online search engines, respectively, irrespective of the technological means used for such presentation, organisation or communication;

The envisaged modifications shall not be implemented before the expiry of a notice period which is reasonable and proportionate to the nature and extent of least 15 days from the date on which the provider of online intermediation services notifies the business users concerned about the envisaged modifications.deleted

5. Paragraph 3 shall not apply where a provider of online intermediation services is subject to a legal obligation which requires it to modify its terms and conditions in a manner which does not allow it to respect the notice period referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 3.

the main parameters determining ranking, by providing an easily and publicly available description, drafted in clear and unambiguous language on the online search engines of those providers. They shall keep that description up to date.

3. The descriptions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be sufficient to enable the business users or corporate website users to obtain an adequate understanding of whether, and if so how and to what extent, the ranking mechanism takes account of the following: (a) the characteristics of the goods and services offered to consumers through the online intermediation services or the online search engine; (b) the relevance of those characteristics design characteristics of the website used by corporate website users.deleted

4. Providers of online intermediation services and providers of online search engines shall, when complying with the requirements of this Article, not be required to disclose any trade secrets as defined in Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2016/943 nor any other business sensitive

(a) to improve the functioning of the internal market, and especially to protect and empower citizens, consumers and businesses, in particular micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by enforcement of Union law, facilitation of market access, standard setting, and by promoting human, animal and plant health and animal welfare; as well as to enhance cooperation between the competent authorities of Member States and, between the competent authorities of Member States and the Commission and the decentralised Union agencies and between the Commission and third countries and international organisations;

- having regard to its resolution of 10 October 2013 on caste-based discrimination and to the report of 28 January 2016 on minorities and caste- based discrimination by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues and the UN Guidance tool on descent-based discrimination,

29a. Urges the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, to stop the discriminatory measures taken since June 2017 against Qatari nationals, in particular those affecting mixed families, students, property owners, and pilgrims banned from travelling to Mecca for Hajj; praises the efforts made by the Qatari National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in supporting the victims of these violations; calls on the European Union to encourage all diplomatic efforts in resolving the situation;

30a. Reiterates its condemnation of the continuing human rights violations committed against people suffering from caste hierarchies and caste-based discrimination, including the denial of equality and of access to the legal system and to employment, and the continued segregation and caste-induced barriers to the achievement of basic human rights and development; is deeply concerned by the alarming rate of caste-based violent attacks on Dalits and of institutionalised discrimination with impunity; reiterates its call for an EU policy development on caste discrimination, and calls on the EU to use every opportunity in its trade, development and foreign policy to publicly and privately address the EU’s grave concern over caste discrimination and to actively support applications for UN consultative status submitted by NGOs, such as the International Dalit Solidarity Network, focusing on caste-based discrimination and other forms of discrimination based on work and decent;

30b. Reiterates its call on the EU and its Member States to intensify efforts and support initiatives at the UN and delegation levels to eliminate caste discrimination: Initiatives should include promotion of specific indicators, Development Goals, observance of the new UN Guidance tool on descent-based discrimination and support to states’ implementation of recommendations by UN human rights mechanisms on the topic of caste discrimination;

11. TakWelcomes the view that SME categorisation should not be exclusively based onCommission's public consultation on the SME definition, including the criteria of employee headcount, annual turnover and balance sheet totals; calls, therefore, for the for an assessment of whether a criteria of ‘export-intensive’ (high level of exports in relation to number of employees), ‘largely independently-run’ and ‘high equity ratio’ - to be defined in due course - could to be taken into account when categorising companies and for enterprises with these characteristics to at least be exempted from the relevant specific reporting obligations and/or for it to be made easier for them to access financial support;